March 2, 2005

Box Score

ARLINGTON - The drama was the same as in an earlier meeting, but at this point in the season a lot more was riding on the outcome as Texas State began its final week of the regular season in Texas Hall Wednesday against Texas-Arlington.

Texas State erased an 18-point, first-half deficit and claimed a 66-62 win over the Mavericks and in the process, wrapped up a berth into next week's O'Reilly Auto Parts Southland Conference Tournament.

After needing a Chris Langhorne stick back from inside the lane with 0.8 seconds to get past the Mavericks at home earlier this season, 75-72, the Bobcats again had to rally from a halftime deficit Wednesday.

Anthony Dill broke a 62-62 deadlock with 1:03 remaining when he knocked down a pair of free throws. At the other end of the floor, UTA's Steven Thomas missed a mid-range jumper that was rebounded by Matt Canady. After a Texas State timeout, Josh Naylor was fouled with 21 seconds to play. The league's leading free throw shooter made both shots to stretch the `Cats lead to 66-62.

Texas State would secure the win when UTA reserve guard Brady Dawkins' missed three-pointer was rebounded by teammate Larry Posey but had the ball taken away by Lance Burroughs.

With the win, Texas State is back in the conference tournament for the ninth straight year. The Bobcats are now 14-12 and 8-7 in Southland Conference play. UTA dipped to 12-14 and 6-9 in the SLC. The Mavericks are tied with Stephen F. Austin for the eighth but can wrap up a tournament spot with a win over Nicholls State on Friday.

It is still a guessing game on who Texas State's first-round opponent will be next Tuesday but a lot will be determined during a full night of conference play Friday. Texas State closes out the regular-season with rival Texas-San Antonio in Strahan Coliseum. The game is part of a double-header with the women and is senior night as both teams honor three seniors.

Wednesday in Texas Hall, Texas State hit four straight free throws after the under 16-minute media timeout to narrow UTA's lead to two points. During the break, UTA coach Eddie McCarter was whistled for a technical foul after arguing a call that would send Dill to the line with 15:11 to play. Out of the break, Naylor made the two free throws for the technical then Dill added two more from the line as the `Cats cut the lead to 40-39. Dill would later go one-for-two at the line to tie the game with 14:38 to play.

For the game Texas State was 20-for-24 from the line (83.3 percent) after a 23-for-29 free-throw shooting performance against the Mavericks earlier in San Marcos.

UTA's Roderick Epps would answer with a three-pointer and Jarrett Howell added another from behind the arc to give the Mavericks a 46-42 lead. With under eight minutes to play Epps hit another three that gave the Mavericks a 52-44 lead. But the Bobcats would chip away and take the lead with a 12-1 run.

Langhorne converted a three-point play with 5:38 left to cut the Mavericks' lead to 53-52 then Markee White's follow shot gave the `Cats a 54-53 advantage. Dill would score on a fastbreak layin, and after a Thomas layin, Naylor converted a three-point play.

Naylor was 9-for-9 at the free throw line and finished with a game-high 20 points while Dill finished with 17 points, including a 7-for-9 performance at the line. White added nine points on 4-for-5 shooting and finished with a team-high six rebounds.

Epps came off the bench to lead UTA with 13 points. Thomas, who entered the game ranked second in scoring and first in rebounding, was held to five points and three rebounds.

Texas-Arlington made its first five three-pointers and quickly jumped out to an 18-point lead in the opening half.

Dawkins came off the bench to make two of the treys, the first coming from 23 feet out on the wing to beat the shot clock. The second dropped despite being fouled in the act of shooting by Naylor. Dawkins added the free throw to give the Mavericks a 25-9 lead at the time. Kenneth Henderson would later score on a baseline jumper to cap an 11-0 run and give the Mavs a 28-9 with 9:06 to play in the period.

On the other end of the floor, the Bobcats made just three of their first 12 shots before mounting a comeback in the final minutes of the period to narrow the gap to single figures at the break.

White drilled a three-pointer and Naylor drove inside and found Canady for an open layup as the `Cats scored the final five points of the period and trailed 36-28 at the break.