As soon as the Southland Conference Tournament started for the Bobcats it seemed it was over. Texas State fell in the first round of the tournament 80-75 to the Nicholls State Colonels.
Brandon Bush started out the game with what has been his signature all season, the “and one.” After a nice lay up in the lane with the foul Bush sank the first of many free throws in the ball game.
It was about this time that the Bobcats were in the dark and I mean that literally rather than figuratively. All the lights in the stadium flashed off in the middle of play. The emergency lights clicked on and everyone was ok as the game continued. It was sufficient lighting but certainly not the bright glow one is used to from a basketball court. Eventually all the facilities came back to life but over the next five minutes of play the teams would go at it with about 70% lighting.
With the lights the Bobcats turned things on going on a 10-3 run where John Rybak added a steal and five points to make the score 13-5. Rybak continued to be the Bobcats offense and with 8:13 left in the half he had scored ten of the teams 20 points.
20 of the final 30 points scored in the first half collectively were scored at the free throw line generally keeping the Bobcats lead in take. A few runs were made by the Colonels but every one of them was answered. At half time the score was 34-26 with Texas State leading. The Colonels were a perfect eleven for eleven from the free throw line while the Bobcats were ten of eleven. The difference in the ball game so far was Texas State was 4-11 from beyond the arc while Nicholls State was 1-10. Also, the Bobcats were +5 in the turnover margin.
Things were looking good and Bobcat fans were starting to get a bit excited. Then the Colonels First Team All-SLC Forward Ryan Bathie started out the second half on a 5-0 run himself and fans started to get worried. This is also when the Bobcats entire first team began fouling in masses. Brent Benson and Bush did their best to keep the lead scoring eleven out of the Bobcats 17 points to start out the half. With 13:09 left in the game the Cats led 51-45 and went cold for the next three minutes. Nicholls State started charging back to take the lead for the first time since the score was 2-0. They led 52-51.
From the ten minute mark the Colonels would make an average of two free throws per minute and shoot three free throws a minute. The lead quickly increased to six points and it was a deficit the Cats would have a hard time coming back from. After a last minute charge the Bobcats brought the final score to within five points but none the less the season was over.
At one point Nicholls State was 23-25 from the free throw line and ended up 35-43 from the line. There were 71 free throws and 58 fouls called in the ball game. Besides the excellent free throw shooting the Colonels also shot 61% from the floor in the second half and 57% from beyond the arc.
After leading at halftime and looking like the aggressors it became even more painful to watch the Bobcats go home on the first day. The four seniors walked off the court having given the Bobcats their first try at an SLC tournament since 2004. The senior lines were as follows: Brandon Bush finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds, Brent Benson with 15 points, Corey Jefferson with 11 points, and Dylan Moseley with 2 points 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Tune in again next season to listen Bobcat Basketball on 89.9 KTSW.
Dalton Sweat- KTSW Sports Staff Writer
No comments:
Post a Comment