NEW ORLEANS – The Texas State men's basketball team earned its first Sun Belt Conference Tournament win, defeating UT Arlington 68-62, Wednesday night at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. The Bobcats snapped their eight-game losing streak to the Mavericks and combined with the women to earn a tournament sweep over their longtime rival.Â
Texas State started hot from the field, making four of its first five shots to race out to a 13-9 lead in the first four minutes. The Mavericks then responded with a 9-0 run of their own to take an 18-13 advantage, during which the Bobcat offense went 0-of-7 from the field. Â
It was then Texas State's turn to make a push, going on an 8-0 run to take a 21-18 lead. Ethan Montalvo keyed that spurt, hitting a contested three followed by a steal and a fastbreak layup in traffic and eventually the Bobcats led 26-20, before finishing the half up 33-29. Â
The two teams traded baskets to start the second half before the Bobcats went on a 6-0 run. D.J. Brown hit a straightaway three following an offensive rebound to give the team its largest lead at the time 43-35. Â
The lead ballooned to 54-42, before UTA went on a 12-0 run to tie the game at 54 with 5:20 to go. The Bobcats led 58-56 when Cameron Naylor hit a jumper and was fouled on the play. He made the free throw to give the Bobcats a 61-56 advantage with 2:07 to go. Naylor then had another and-one a few minutes later, to make it a 64-58 game. He finished with 15 points, 10 of which came in the second half.Â
Emani Gant finished the game as the Bobcats' leading scorer with 19 points. He was one of four players in double figures, joining Wes Davis, Montalvo and Naylor. Davis also chipped in with four steals, giving him 189 for his career, just three away from the all-time record at Texas State, held by David Sykes.Â
Texas State will now face the No. 4 seed, UL Lafayette on Friday night at 5 p.m. Friday's game will be broadcasted on ESPN 3 and the radio broadcast can be heard on 89.9 FM KTSW, as well as www.txstatebobcats.com/radio.
