Brooklyn, N.Y. – Texas State (6-4) held a two-point lead at the half over Long Island (7-6), but the Blackbirds outscored the Bobcats by 18 points in the second period as they battled back and came away with a 100-84 win over Texas State tonight at the Wellness Center.

Matt Staff led the Bobcat offense with a team-leading 19 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Brooks Ybarra chipped in 13 points and matched a career-high three steals to go along with four rebounds.

The Bobcats were up by a deuce at the half, but the Blackbirds drained six three-pointers in the second period to take a 20-point lead, 72-52, with 11:11 left in the game. Texas State used a couple of baskets to chip away at the scoreboard and a trey by Wesley Davis cut the Blackbirds' lead to 15 points. The Bobcats cut the lead to 13 points after a Staff lay-up, but that's the closest they would come.

Long Island was able to keep the Bobcats at a distance as they nailed a total of 11 three-pointers in the game and connected on 17 free throws.

Foul troubles plagued the Bobcats' big men throughout the game and the 14 turnovers the Bobcats committed didn't help either. The Bobcat bench was able to score 33 points led by eight points each from John Bowman and Gordon Ball.

Texas State finished the game with 54 points in the paint and 21 points off turnovers. The Bobcats shot 45.7 percent (37-81) from the floor and 80 percent (8-10) from the charity stripe.

Julian Boyd led LIU with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Michael Culp had 15 and C.J. Garner added 13 points for the Blackbirds.

Texas State was 4-for-4 from the free throw line and 18-for-37 from the field at the half. The Bobcats clung on to a two-point lead over Long Island at the half, 40-38. Long Island entered the locker room with five made three-pointers and 78.6 percent shooting (11-for-14) from the charity stripe.

Texas State will complete its trip to New York with a game at Fordham on Thursday. Tip-off at Rose Hill Gym is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

Notes

Tonight's game was the second meeting ever between the two teams…Wesley Davis made his second career start…Texas State failed to net a three-pointer in the first half for the first time this season…Staff led Texas State in scoring for the fourth time this season…The Bobcats tied a season-low two made three-pointers…