Bobcats lament a frenzied finish
Through a season built on staring down challenges and defying expectations, Texas State interim coach Terrence Johnson said the Bobcats learned to “embrace all things that are difficult.”
During Saturday’s Sun Belt tournament quarterfinal, that meant knocking down four 3pointers in the final 30 seconds of regulation to erase an eight-point deficit and force overtime on a buzzer-beater by Caleb Asberry.
And though Texas State’s rally fizzled in a 76-73 loss to Appalachian State at the Pensacola Bay Center in Florida, Johnson said the Bobcats can chalk it up as another obstacle to overcome at the end of a year filled with hurdles.
“We’re going to pick up the pieces. These guys are going to pick each other up, like they’ve been doing all season,” Johnson said. “We are not going to wallow in sorrow.”
Johnson acknowledged that few expected the Bobcats to be in the position they were Saturday, holding the No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt tournament after claiming the league’s regular-season title.
Texas State was picked to finish fifth out of six teams in the West Division in the preseason coaches poll, opening the year under the cloud cast by the September resignation of coach Danny Kaspar following an internal investigation.
After a roller-coaster season, Texas State senior Shelby Adams said the Bobcats understood not to panic amid Saturday’s wild finish.
“It was for sure up and down, but a lot of times I preached to my teammates that we have to stay levelheaded,” Adams said. “Even if they go and make a run, we still have to keep our heads up and keep chopping wood. That’s what our whole season has been based upon.”
Texas State (18-7) used a stifling
defense to lead for more than 30 minutes of regulation. The Bobcats were clinging to a one-point margin with five minutes remaining before Appalachian State (1511) launched a 9-0 run, holding the Bobcats scoreless for more than four minutes.
Appalachian State built an eight-point lead with 30 seconds remaining, but Asberry knocked down a 3 with 26 seconds to play, Isiah Small hit a 3 with 16 seconds remaining, and Asberry again converted from beyond the arc to cut the margin to two points with six seconds left.
After the Mountaineers hit just one of two at the free-throw line, Asberry grabbed the rebound and dribbled into a contested, offbalance 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“I need something a little stronger than water after that,” Appalachian State coach Dustin Kerns said. “March Madness, here we are.”
Asberry rattled in another 3pointer to start overtime, but the Bobcats made just one more field goal in the period as the Mountaineers took control. Texas State
kept close enough for Asberry to try one more desperation 3 in the closing seconds, but this one caught only iron.
Johnson said the Bobcats “kind of lost focus” in overtime and “let a couple of possessions get away from us at crucial times.”
Texas State entered the conference tournament confident in its ability to win three straight and punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Instead, the Bobcats are headed back to San Marcos.
“It’s very tough. We had a goal, and whenever in life you don’t achieve a goal, you’re going to feel some type of way about it,” Adams said. “But I’m going to do what I’ve been doing all season, telling my teammates to keep our heads up and keep working hard. This is only going to make us better.”
Appalachian State scored just 20 points in the first half, hitting 30.8 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range. The Mountaineers shot 42.4 percent in the second half and overtime and caught fire from beyond the arc, converting 60 percent.
Mason Harrell led Texas State with 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting with seven rebounds, while Asberry finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
“There’s only one team that’s going to say that they accomplished their goals here in the tournament,” Johnson said. “Just like there’s only one team that can say they accomplished their goals throughout the regular season, and we happen to be that team. Certainly two is better than one, but we have one.
“We can be in this position again, but we can have a different result.”
One of the offseason checkpoints for Texas State will be a decision on a permanent head coach. Despite the Bobcats’ success through the season, Johnson said last week that he’s pushed off conversations about his future with the program, keeping focus on the task at hand.
After the final question of his postgame media session Saturday, Kerns said he would be disappointed if Johnson doesn’t land the job.
“TJ Johnson should be the head coach at Texas State. I don’t know what we’re waiting on,” Kerns said. “Remove the interim tag. Give him a five-year deal. Let’s go. Let’s do the right thing.”