Feb. 20, 2008

Final Stats

Corpus Christi, Tx. - With 1.3 seconds on the clock, there was a standstill at the American Bank Center. Brent Benson had just made his first shot of the night to break a 69-69 tie game, but Texas A&M-Corpus Christi had one possession remaining. A hungry Bobcat team forced Demond Watt to pitch the inbound pass into the stands and the Texas State Bobcats held on for a 71-69 victory on the road against the Islanders.

At 16:16, the Bobcats took their first lead of the game when Corey Jefferson powered around Chris Daniels with a lay-up for a 7-6 game. The Islanders countered with two points and tried for a second field goal, but Jonathan Sloan dismissed the chance with a blocked shot at 14:40. Brandon Thomas had the return shot underneath the basket to keep the `Cats on top.

A&M-Corpus Christi went on a four-point run, but a three-pointer from way back by Brent Holder sliced the deficit to just one. A goaltending violation by the Islanders on the next possession put two more towards the `Cats tally, but three-straight field goals from beyond the arc gave the host squad a comfortable 27-19 edge over the Maroon and White.

The Bobcats came back with a 5-2 posting over Corpus Christi and the defense held the foe to just two points over the next five minutes of play, entering half time down by just four points, 31-27.

Both teams played tough in the paint, holding each other to just ten points in the half. Texas State dominated on the board, taking a 27-18 presence over the Islanders.

Emerging from the half, the contest shifted into hyper mode, with Texas State called for a foul a minute in the first six minutes of the half. The Islanders managed to maintain a four point margin over the `Cats until around the 12 minute mark when Brandon Bush drew back-to-back fouls and went 4-4 from the stripe for a 43-43 tie game.

Corpus fought its way back to an eight point lead over Texas State, but Thomas launched a rally at 9:26 with a dunk and pulled Texas State up to a 56-56 tie game with just over six minutes left to play. On a nice look inside the paint from Jefferson, the Bobcats went ahead by two with more help from No. 5.

At 2:53 Bush had his turn down low and slammed the ball for a 66-63 game and followed with a lay-up and the extra point to tie the game at 66-66. TAMU-CC put in one point, but Brent Holder dropped in three for Texas State raising the score to 69-67. The Islanders took advantage of a Bobcat turnover on the next possession and tied the game with just under a minute left to play.

For the game, Texas State shot just 31 percent from the field, while Corpus Christi shot 44 percent. The `Cats maintained the rebounding lead, finishing with a 56-38 advantage.

Thomas led the team on his third double-double outing this season with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Bush went 9-11 from the stripe to aid in his 13-point night and Jefferson chipped in ten points. Ty Gough grabbed eight rebounds in the win.

Justin Reynolds recorded 16 points and six rebounds to lead Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for the night.

The Bobcats will return home for the Maroon vs. Orange rivalry tilt with Texas-San Antonio. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Strahan Coliseum.