Box Score
San Antonio, Texas – In what lived up to all the hype in the classic I-35 Rivalry, Texas State came back from 17 points down in the second half to apply pressure to the Roadrunners, but fell short as UTSA escaped with the 88-84 victory tonight at the UTSA Convocation Center. The Bobcats drop to 7-11, 2-2 SLC, while the Roadrunners improve to 9-8, 3-2 SLC.
Eddie Rios led Texas State with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists. Tony Bishop registered 17 points and six rebounds. Also scoring in double figures was Cameron Johnson with 16 points and Travis Jones with 15 points all from three-point range.
After trailing by more than 15 points in the second half, Texas State was able to cut UTSA's lead to four (75-71) after three free throws by Ryan White with under six minutes left. With the Roadrunners in the bonus, Johnson nailed a free throw to bring the Bobcats to within three points (75-72) with 5:33 to go in the game.
UTSA was able to score four straight points, but back-to-back treys by Jones brought Texas State to within one point with 3:35 on the clock. The Roadrunners hit a pair of free throws, but Johnson nailed four in a row to give the Bobcats their first lead of the game at 84-83.
The Roadrunners regained the lead with two free throws and 1:25 to go. The Bobcats had the chance to take the lead, but they turned the ball over with 31.4 seconds on the clock giving the ball back to the Roadrunners. UTSA's Devin Gibson stepped to the free throw line missing his first attempt, but hitting the second with 23 seconds remaining. Texas State missed a couple of jumpers in the paint on the opposite end and was forced to foul with less than four seconds remaining. UTSA's Say Pay made both free throws to give the Roadrunners a four-point cushion and the victory, 88-84.
Texas State started the game out on a rough start after UTSA began the first half on 13-0 run, before a made free throw by Uriel Segura gave the Bobcats their first point of the game. A pair of three-pointers by Rios helped the Bobcats trim the Roadrunners lead to 21-9 with 11:46 remaining.
Texas State went on to outscore UTSA, 36-33, after the Roadrunners scored 13 straight points. Bishop registered a three-point play with 2:46 to go, which brought the Bobcats to within seven points (32-39); the closest they would get in the half. UTSA took a 46-36 lead into intermission with the help of 16 points by Melvin Johnson III. Rios led the Bobcats with 11 points.
Melvin Johnson III was the leading scorer for UTSA with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Jeromie Hill had 17 points and five boards. Devin Gibson chipped in 15 points, six boards and eight assists.
Both teams combined for 49 fouls. Texas State shot 40 percent in the game and UTSA wasn't much better with 47 percent. Overall, both teams were fairly even on the box score, including recording 44 rebounds apiece.
Texas State will return to Strahan Coliseum on Wednesday, January 26 to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, who is 2-3 in conference play. Tip-off between the Bobcats and Islanders is set for 7 p.m. Last time out, the Islanders beat the Bobcats 63-60 in Corpus Christi.
