SAN MARCOS, Texas – Junior forward Kavin Gilder-Tilbury scored a career-high 22 points Sunday afternoon to lead Texas State to a hard fought 68-59 victory over Texas-Rio Grande Valley in the Strahan Coliseum. The Houston, Texas native finished 8-of-12 from the field, made five free throws, grabbed three rebounds and matched his career best with four steals.
 
The victory was the Bobcats fifth straight at home as they improved to 4-2 on the season while the Vaqueros are now 3-7 overall and have lost two straight.
 
"I am a little frustrated with this victory but happy to get away with the victory," said head coach Danny Kaspar. "Several times we had seven and eight point leads on them and should have extended it, but we missed some gimmies at the rim and free throws. We have to finish, make our free throws and prevent turnovers like our last two of the game."



Texas State forced UTRGV into 22 turnovers with 12 being the result of a steal. However, the Bobcats struggled at the free throw line with a 10-for-19 performance.
 
Also finishing in double-figures in points were Emani Gant and Cameron Naylor with 13 and 10, respectively. The trio of Ojai Black, Gant and Naylor all dished out a team-high four assists. On the glass, Naylor grabbed a team best seven rebounds and Gant added six.
 
Ethan Montalvo recorded three steals, giving him 15 over his last three games.

 
 
Opening the game with four straight points and six of the first eight was Gant. Montalvo followed with back-to-back baskets to increase Texas State's lead to 10-4 just over three and a half minutes into the game.
 
A three-pointer by Montalvo stretched the Bobcats' advantage to 19-9, their largest of the game, with 9:28 left until intermission.
 
During a 4:08 Texas State scoring drought, UTRGV fought back to cut the score to 21-18. Back-to-back buckets from Gilder-Tilbury and Montalvo increased the Bobcats' lead to seven.
 
Following an old-fashion three-point play by the Vaqueros, Gant found Naylor for a layup with five seconds left on the clock. Montalvo then stole the in-bound pass but was unable to get a shot off before the horn sounded to increase Texas State's 30-25 halftime advantage.
 
UTRGV opened the second half with a 10-4 run to take their first and only lead of the game at the 15:46 mark. An old school three-point play by Gilder-Tilbury and two free throws from Black put the Bobcats back in front almost a minute later.
 
After the Vaqueros tied the game 53-53 on a pair of Shaquille Hines charity stripe shots with 6:54 remaining, Texas State outscored UTRGV 15-6 the rest of the way. All of the Bobcats' points came either on baskets at the rim or on free throws.
 
Texas State hits the road to take on Prairie View A&M at 7 p.m. Wednesday night in the William Nicks Building.