Feb. 7, 2007

SAN MARCOS - Texas State will look to end a three-game losing skid when the Bobcats play a McNeese State squad also looking for a reversal of fortunes.

McNeese heads into Thursday's game in Strahan Coliseum having lost its last two. Both teams are 8-14 overall. The Bobcats are tied for fourth in the Southland Conference's West Division with a 3-6 record while McNeese State is tied for third in the East with a 3-5 league mark.

Tip-off for Thursday's game is slated for 7 p.m.

This is the final week of inter-divisional play. Texas State will play its final East Division opponent of the regular season Saturday when the Bobcats travel to Lamar.

Thursday's game will mark the third straight road game for McNeese State. Last week, the Cowboys suffered a 69-64 overtime loss at Southeastern Louisiana then dropped a 61-53 decision at Nicholls State. The SLU game marked the Cowboys' third overtime contest in the past three weeks. McNeese also suffered a 98-90 overtime loss at Northwestern State before winning at home in OT against Central Arkansas, 61-56.

Leading McNeese State in scoring this season is junior post player Jarvis Bradley who is averaging 13 points and seven rebounds. The Dallas native ranks in the top 15 in the Southland Conference in scoring and top 10 in rebounding. Returning guard John Ford is averaging 11.1 points.

Texas State's leading scorer, Brandon Bush, is coming off the first game in which he has played off the bench this season. Bush finished with 11 points, six rebounds and a career-high seven assists in the Bobcats' 110-103 overtime loss at home to Texas-Arlington last week. For the season Bush is averaging 14.9 points a game and also leads the squad with a 5.2 rebounding average.

While Bush scored 11 off the bench against UTA, all five starters also scored in double figures, including Dylan Moseley who finished with 23.

Five other Southland Conference games are slated for tonight, including an inter-divisional showdown between Northwestern State and Sam Houston State who both hold 7-2 conference records.