Tarleton State stuns No. 24 Mustangs 38-17

MSU (5-2, 3-2 all LSC games, 1-2 LSC South) held a 17-9 lead with 2:02 to play in the first half after a 30-yard Rahsaan Bell pass to Darrius Richard.

But the Texans (3-3, 3-2, 2-0) came back to score with 26 seconds remaining in the half on the second of four Dustin Pleasant touchdown receptions from Richard Bartel. A two-point conversion pass to Chuck Egbuonu tied the score at 17 heading into the half.

But the second half was all Tarleton's.

TSU held the top NCAA Division II offense entering the game to just 107 yards in the second half, and four consecutive three-and-outs to start the half.

Tarleton meanwhile rolled up 212 second half yards and scored 21 second half points.

Pleasant's four touchdown pass receptions set a Memorial Stadium record for MSU games, breaking the previous record of three held by Cole Sanders of Eastern New Mexico set in 2001.

Bartel completed 18-of-31 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns, with Pleasant grabbing six passes for 114 yards and all four scores.

TSU running back Richard Sampson carried the ball 32 times for 167 yards and a touchdown as well.

Running back Ross Harrison, who did not start but saw significant action, carried the ball seven times for 55 yards to lead MSU.

TSU ended the night with 451 total yards, while holding MSU to just 288 - the first time this season the Mustangs have been held under 390 yards.

He also moved over the 2,300 yard mark. Harrison now has 2,303 yards on 363 carries, and is 238 yards away from

Kristian Foster kicked a 30-yard field goal to open the scoring, making it 11 straight games that MSU has scored first.

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