SEATTLE, Wash.– The Texas State men's basketball team came from 10 points down at one point to come away with a 62-53 victory in its season opener, Friday night at Seattle.Â
Emani Gant was named MVP of the Elgin Baylor Classic, scoring 17 points and having three assists along with three steals. Gant had three fastbreak dunks to key the Bobcats second half run which saw them outscore Seattle 36-20.Â
D.J. Brown, a transfer from Seattle also showed his poise at point guard. Brown broke the press routinely in the second half and went 3-of-6 from three-point range and 6-of-6 from the line to finish with 15 points, three assists and two steals.Â
Turnovers plagued the Bobcats early who had seven in the first 15 minutes, allowing the Redhawks to race out to a 27-16 lead. Seattle was paced during the spurt by All-WAC First-Team selection Isaiah Umipig who had 14 points, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Umipig finished with 23 points.Â
Wes Davis tried to give the Bobcats a momentum burst right before half. Davis hit a straight-away three-pointer and then got a steal, taking the ball away from Umipig. Kavin Gilder-Tilbury's three-pointer right before half was long and the Bobcats trailed 33-26 at intermission.
The Bobcats came out of halftime on fire, going on a 9-3 run to begin the half. During the stretch, Texas State forced turnovers on the Redhawks' first four possessions, and 12 total in the second half compared to the Bobcats two.Â
The Bobcats will next have their home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m., at Strahan Coliseum when they take on former Southland Conference foe Lamar.
