Box Score
Nacogdoches, Texas – Texas State (8-13, 1-7 SLC) fought hard, but fell at Stephen F. Austin (12-9, 6-2 SLC) tonight, 71-63 on the road at Johnson Coliseum. Matt Staff led Texas State with 20 points for his second 20-point performance of the season. Brooks Ybarra added 10 points.
Within the first few minutes of the game, fans could sense that it was going to be a battle of the big men. Both Staff and Stephen F. Austin's Jereal Scott were putting on quite a show in the early minutes to lead their respective teams on offense. The forwards continued their scoring spree in the second until the final buzzer.
Texas State found itself down 62-46 with 3:52 remaining. The Bobcats out-scored The Lumberjacks 15-9 in the final minutes thanks to a team scoring effort. Texas State was able to cut Stephen F. Austin's lead to 10 points twice. Eddie Rios drained a three-pointer with time expiring, but Stephen F. Austin came away with a 71-63 win at Johnson Coliseum tonight to hand the Bobcats their fifth-straight loss.
Texas State was held to eight field goals in the first half, as Stephen F. Austin took a 36-22 lead into halftime. Both teams committed 11 turnovers apiece in the first period, but the Lumberjacks were able to shoot 63 percent from the floor to take a steady lead over the Bobcats.
Stephen F. Austin was led by Scott who finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Jonathan King chipped in 15 points. The Lumberjacks held the Bobcats to a season low in boards as they out-rebounded Texas State 39-18.
Texas State will continue play away from Strahan with a trip to Thibodaux, La. on Saturday, Feb. 4 to face Nicholls. The Bobcats will host Central Arkansas on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.
Notes: Bobcat starters tonight were Wesley Davis, John Bowman, Brooks Ybarra, Reid Koenen and Matt Staff … 15th double figure game of the season for Staff and second 20-point game … Ybarra finished with 10 points for his team-leading 17th double figure game and 12th straight …Season-low in rebounds with 18 … Neither team recorded a single block in the first half …
