Box Score
Huntsville, Texas – Texas State challenged Sam Houston State down to the very last second, but the Bearkats ended up with the 71-68 victory tonight at Johnson Coliseum. The Bobcats fall to 8-9, 1-3 in SLC play. The Bearkats improve to 8-10, 2-2 in conference play.
Eddie Rios led all Bobcats with 18 points, 14 of which came in the second half. Matt Staff added 16 points and eight rebounds. Vonn Jones chipped in 14 points and Brooks Ybarra added 10 for the night. The Bobcats shot 47.1 percent from the floor and 64.7 percent from the charity stripe.
With seven minutes to go and trailing by seven points, the Bobcats needed someone to take command of the game and move the ball. Rios scored seven points over the next three minutes and V. Jones added three to cut the Bearkats lead to 65-61 with 3:54 remaining in the game.
A three-pointer by Rios brought the Bobcats to within two points with two minutes remaining. The Bearkats called a timeout with 54.8 seconds left on the clock and the ball in their hands with a two-point edge.
Sam Houston State was called for a shot clock violation with 21.1 seconds remaining to give the Bobcats back the ball. Texas State missed a jumper and Sam Houston State went to the line to shoot two after being fouled. The Bearkats made the first free throw attempt, but missed the second giving the Bobcats a chance for a tie. Texas State missed a three-pointer with time winding down to fall 71-68 on the road.
Texas State entered halftime down five points, after trailing by as many as 10 points in the period. The Bobcats fell behind early, but managed to fight back and take the lead at one point. Texas State outscored the Bearkats 11 to 10 in the final seven minutes. Staff led the charge with 16 points. Both teams turned the ball over heavily; Texas State 13 times and Sam Houston State 10 times.
Sam Houston State was led by Demarcus Gatlin who had 19 points and five rebounds. Marcus James chipped in 18 points. The Bearkats shot 49 percent as a team and 63 percent from the free throw line.
Texas State returns to Strahan Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 21 as it host I-35 rival UTSA at 4 p.m. The Bobcats will then travel to A&M-Corpus Christi to face the Islanders on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.
Notes: Bobcat starters tonight were Vonn Jones, Travis Jones, Brooks Ybarra, Reid Koenen and Matt Staff…It was the first time the lineup has been used…Tonight was Matt Staff's second straight double digit scoring game and 12th overall…Brooks Ybarra had his team-leading 13th double figure performance and eighth straight…Vonn Jones recorded his fourth double figure game and third straight…Eddie Rios tallied his 10th double digit performance of the season…Second straight game four or more Bobcats have scored in double figures…Sixth time this season the Bobcats have scored 30 or less points in the first half…
