Feb. 11, 2010

Final Stats

Complete Game Statistics in PDF Format

Corpus Christi, Texas- - In a game that featured eight ties and 11 lead changes, the Texas State men's basketball team couldn't score a game-tying basket in their final two possessions as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi held on for a 63-60 victory over the Bobcats in a Southland Conference game on Wednesday night at the American Bank Center.

Cameron Johnson led the Bobcats with 21 points and 11 rebounds. In addition to Johnson's seventh 20-point game and sixth double-double performance, Ryan White scored 12 points and handed out a team-best three assists. J.B. Conley added eight points in his fourth start of the season, and John Rybak hit a pair of three-point shots to net six.

Kevin Palmer scored a game-high 26 points and led Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with eight rebounds, while Demond Watt tallied 16 points for the Islanders, who improved their record to 13-10 overall and 7-2 in Southland Conference play.

"This is a very tough loss for us," Texas State head coach Doug Davalos said. "Our kids played hard. In the first game, we turned the ball over too much, but out-rebounded them. Tonight, we cut down on our turnovers, but they were able to pound us on the boards."

The Islanders held a 43-29 advantage in rebounding and pulled down 19 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points. Ten of the 14 points came in the second half when Texas A&M-Corpus Christi outscored the Bobcats 35-31.

Texas State stayed in contention by collecting 13 steals and forcing 24 turnovers as the Bobcats outscored the Islanders 20-16 in points off turnovers. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi also struggled at the free throw line most of the game and ended the night making 15 of their 29 free throws. Meanwhile, Texas State converted 11 of their 16 free throws.

Texas State led 29-28 at halftime after Conley nailed a jump shot from the right wing just before the first half ended. Conley scored six of his eight points in the opening period. Five of the game's eight ties occurred in the first half. The fifth came with 4:35 left in the opening period and the score tied at 22-22.

The Islanders took a one-point lead when LaMarr Drake made one of his two free throws. Johnson scored a lay-up to allow the Bobcats to regain the lead. After Drake answered with a lay-up of his own, White nailed a 25-foot, three-point shot from the top of the key with the shot clock running out to give Texas State a 27-25 lead.

After both teams exchanged possessions, Drake hit Palmer for a fast-break lay-up and he was fouled on the play by Conley. He made the free throw to give the Islanders a one-point advantage before Conley gave Texas State its lead at halftime with his last second shot just before intermission.

In the second half, Palmer made a lay-up to give the Islanders a 34-31 lead before Texas State used a 7-0 run to regain a 38-34 advantage. White started the rally with another three-point shot from the top of the key, Johnson stole the ball and drove down court for a lay-up and White capped off the drive when he drove through the lane for another lay-up with 16:54 left in the game.

The Islanders came right back with an 11-2 run of their own to take a 45-40 advantage and never trailed again.

Texas State trailed 61-51 with five minutes to play when the Bobcats used a 9-2 rally down the stretch to get back in contention as Johnson scored six of his 21 points in the run.

"Cameron played tremendously," Davalos said. "People don't understand how tough some of his shots are because every team we play keys their defense to stop him."

Trailing 62-60 with less than a minute to play, John Bowman drove to the left wing and looked to pass the ball inside to Johnson so he could attempt a game-tying basket. But, Marcus Hammonds stole the pass and the Bobcats were forced to foul Palmer with 8.6 seconds left on the clock. An 80-percent free throw shooter entering the game, Palmer had an opportunity to put the game out of reach. He made his first free throw, but missed the second to give Texas State one last chance to tie the score and send the game into overtime.

After Johnson grabbed the rebound, the Bobcats worked the ball up court and found Conley at the top of the key 25 feet away from the basket. This time, Conley was forced to shoot an off-balanced attempt that bounced off the rim to give Texas A&M-Corpus Christi the victory.

With the loss, Texas State falls to 11-13 overall this season, and the Bobcats own a 5-5 record in the Southland Conference standings heading into Saturday's game against Lamar that tips off at 4:00 p.m. in Strahan Coliseum.

Lamar enters Saturday's game with a 14-11 overall record and is 5-4 in SLC games. The Bobcats defeated the Cardinals 97-92 in overtime at Beaumont on January 23.