Box Score
Corpus Christi, Texas – Eddie Rios and Matt Staff had 18 points apiece, but it wasn't enough to carry the Texas State (8-11, 1-5 SLC) men's basketball team to a win as it fell to A&M-Corpus Christi (4-15, 3-4 SLC) 74-68 tonight at the American Bank Center.
Texas State shot 39.7 percent from the floor and 77.8 percent from the free throw line. Also scoring in double figures for Texas State was Vonn Jones and Brooks Ybarra who each had 11 points. The Bobcats edged the Islanders on the boards by two, but costly turnovers hurt Texas State. The game saw nine ties and five lead changes.
The Bobcats had a 58-48 lead on the Islanders before AMCC came back and scored nine straight points to cut Texas State's lead to 58-57 with eight minutes to go in the game. For the next four minutes the two teams traded baskets to keep the game close.
A feed to Staff from Rios gave the Bobcats a 68-66 lead with 2:53 remaining. The Islanders scored their next four points at the free throw line to take a 71-68 edge on the Bobcats with one minute to go.
The Bobcats missed a pair of baskets on the other end and were forced to foul. The Islanders made one of two free throws and were able to garner the win tonight at the American Bank Center.
Texas State began the game on a 10-0 run thanks to seven points by Staff. The Bobcats led by as many as 11 points in the period, but the Islanders managed a 10-0 run of their own to go up 19-17. The Islanders never led by more than three points as Texas State fought back and entered the locker room at halftime with a 36-32 lead; 12-of-14 from the free throw line. Staff led the Bobcats with nine points.
A&M-Corpus Christi was led by Terence Jones who finished with 33 points. Chris Mast-Hawkins added 17 points and Myron Dempsey chipped in 12 points. The Islanders shot 40.4 percent from the floor and 72.7 percent from the free throw line.
Texas State returns to Strahan Coliseum on Saturday, January 28 to host UT Arlington at 4 p.m. The Bobcats will then play on the road at Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 1 and at Nicholls on Feb. 4.
Notes: Bobcat starters tonight: Vonn Jones, Travis Jones, Wesley Davis, Brooks Ybarra and Matt Staff … tonight was the 19th meeting between the two teams … Ybarra had his tenth straight double digit scoring game and 15th overall for a team-high … Staff recorded his 13th double figure scoring game … Rios finished with his 11th double digit scoring game of the season … the Bobcats had four or more players finish in double figures for the third time in the past four games … tonight was the first time the Islanders had beaten Texas State since Feb. 2010.
