Box Score

San Marcos, Texas – Texas State held a second half lead, but it wasn't enough as the Bobcats fell to Long Island, 73-64, Monday night at Strahan Coliseum in the final non-conference game of the season.

Kendell Ramlal provided a needed boost for the Bobcats on the defensive end midway through the first half. He blocked a Blackbird who was attacking the rim, leading to a fastbreak layup by Phil Hawkins who converted an and-one opportunity to cut the Long Island lead to 17-14.

Towards the end of the first half, Texas State went on a 6-0 run thanks to back-to-back threes from Kavin Gilder-Tilbury and Phil Hawkins, cutting Long Island's lead to 32-31. That would end up being the halftime score after Wes Davis blocked a LIU player going to the basket.

The Bobcats came out of halftime on an 8-0 run highlighted by a monster dunk from Kavin Gilder-Tilbury. Tilbury was in the left corner and took the ball along the baseline before flushing it in front of a Blackbird. Hawkins then hit a left corner three on the team's next possession to put the Bobcats up 40-38 with 16:20 to go in the second half.

Tilbury started another spurt for the Bobcats, rattling off four straight points, beginning with a floater in the lane. He then threw down another monster dunk as Texas State grew its lead to 49-42.

Long Island tied the game up at 53-53 and the two teams then went back-and-forth down the stretch. The Blackbirds used a final 13-5 run over the last 3:48 to seal the game, after the Bobcats had gotten to within 60-59.

The Bobcats will now begin Sun Belt Conference play on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., against UALR. For those who cannot make it to Strahan Coliseum, the game will be aired on 89.9 FM KTSW or www.txstatebobcats.com.