The Texas State men’s basketball team played its first home game of a season and took a close 79-78 loss against the University of Texas-San Antonio Nov. 15.
The Bobcats trailed the Roadrunners 34-32 by the end of the first half, but the second half, the Bobcats took the lead.
It was with one minute left in the game when Texas State had a 73-67 lead, but in the final seconds, UTSA came back and scored more baskets than Texas State could make.
Texas State finished playing its first game against the Air Force Nov. 12 and lost 65-57.
“I asked these guys here to do a couple of things to better our situation from Air Force,” Head coach Danny Kaspar said. “That was cut down from turnovers which they did. I said we need to keep them from offensive rebounding, they shoot a lot of threes.”
Overall the Bobcats went 40.3 percent in field goals, 40.0 percent in three pointers and 58.1 percent in free throws.
“Tonight we shot the threes better, we rebounded it and they had two more turnovers,” Kaspar said. “But it really comes down to, we get 31 free throws and we can’t make 58 percent. We got to hit our free throws.”
Individually, senior guard Tyler Blount led the team in points with a total of 22. However, Blount went 4-8 when he stepped up to the free throw line.
“Free throw situations is really an individual game,” Kaspar said. “Tyler stepped up there and hit those two free throws with no problem, before he missed the last two ones.”
Sophomore guard Nijal Pearson followed behind Blount in points with a total of 14. Pearson was a leading player last season, and hopes to perform as well—if not better—for this season.
“Our big three freshmen played so much last year, but it has to come through better,” Kaspar said. “I thought Nijal did a good job though he needs more rebounds.”
After tonight’s loss, the Bobcats start the season with an 0-2 record.
“This is my 27th year as a head coach and this is one of my most disappointing losses,” Kaspar said.
Texas State’s next game will be held at home against UT Rio Grande Valley Nov. 18 at 4:30 p.m.