Jan. 20, 2007

Box Score
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SAN MARCOS - Texas State senior point guard Antwoine Blanchard knocked down two free throws with 8.9 seconds left to ice a 67-63 win over Texas-San Antonio here Saturday.

The win stopped a three-game losing streak as Texas State improved to 8-11 and 3-3 in Southland Conference play. UTSA lost its seventh straight to fall to 4-13 and 0-4.

Texas-San Antonio never led in the second half but the Roadrunners would keep the contest a two-possession game through the final four minutes. Isaiah Allen's jumper and three-pointer on back-to-back UTSA possessions cut Texas State's lead from eight points to 60-57 with 4:05 to play. Allen had a chance to tie the game less than a minute later but missed a three-pointer.

The Bobcats' would regain a five-point lead with two free throws by Chris Agwumaro but Keith Spencer countered with an offensive board and layin at the 2:35 mark.

The Bobcats would work the clock following Spencer's bucket. Texas State point guard George Kiel would have a layin rim out but the Bobcats maintained possession when the carom went off a UTSA player. With 1:22 to play, Brandon Bush's layin gave the Bobcats a 64-59 lead.

UTSA forward Andrew Francis' offensive board and dunk again cut the lead to three with under a minute to play. Again the Bobcats worked the clock but Matt Fullenwider lost a pass out of bounds from Brent Holder. After a Texas State timeout, the Roadrunners moved the ball down the floor but Kurt Attaway could not connect on a potentially game-tying three-pointer. Texas State's Dylan Moseley tried to get to the rebound but he stepped out of bounds giving UTSA another opportunity.

After another timeout, Francis scored from short distance to cut Texas State's lead to 64-63 with 10 seconds on the clock.

Blanchard took the inbounds and was quickly fouled by Spencer to set up two of the biggest free throws in his playing career. Shooting the front end of a one-and-one opportunity, the senior took a deep breath and stepped off the line after sinking the first. The second shot gave the `Cats a 66-63 lead.

Attaway would miss a three-pointer at the other end to tie and Bush came down with the rebound. He'd make the second of two free throw attempts to account for the final score.

Bush made his first eight shots of the game and finished with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting. He also had four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Blanchard's two free throws in the final seconds gave him 11 points for the game.

Spencer led Texas-San Antonio with 18 points while Melvin Smith finished with 16 and Frances registered a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double.

UTSA led early in the game but the first period featured seven ties as the Bobcats took advantage of poor free throw shooting by the Roadrunners. Texas State was called for 19 first-half fouls leading to a 16-of-34 performance at the free throw line by the Roadrunners (47 percent).

Texas State picked up its third league win despite shooting 41 percent from the field. The Bobcats however shot 73 percent from the line, had 14 turnovers, one shy of a season low and were whistled for only six, second-half fouls.

Texas State will look to remain undefeated at home in Southland Conference play Thursday when the Bobcats play host to Stephen F. Austin. UTSA plays host to Texas-Arlington Monday in a game that was postponed earlier this week by the recent winter storm.