MOBILE, Ala. – Strong performances from Emani Gant and Ethan Montalvo helped spark the Texas State men's basketball team to a 78-67 victory over South Alabama Thursday night in the Mitchell Center.
 
Gant led the Cats with 22 points, 14 rebounds and four assists for his third double-double of the season and seventh of his career. He became the first player to record a 20-10 double-double since Joel Wright on March 9, 2013 at San Jose State. Montalvo, returning from a one-game absence, nailed four three-pointers on his way to an 18-point performance.
 
The Bobcats snapped their two-game skid to improve to 8-5 overall and 2-2 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Jaguars dropped to 6-10 and 1-4 in conference play.
 
Kavin Gilder-Tilbury recorded his fifth consecutive double-digit scoring game with 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting and two three-pointers. Adding seven points and eight rebounds was Anthony Roberson.
 
The Bobcats held a 37-28 advantage on the glass including 16 offensive boards. That helped the team record 17 second chance points to USA's 13.
 
Five points and offensive rebounds by Gant helped spur Texas State to start the game on a 14-1 run. Gilder-Tilbury and Montalvo added five and four points, respectively, during the scoring stretch as well.
 
USA answered back with nine straight points until Roberson converted a free throw attempt.
 
Montalvo nailed his first trey of the game at the 4:50 mark to increase the Bobcats' advantage to eight. However, the Jaguars were able to fight back and tie the game 32-32 after a free throw by Tafari Whittingham.
 
With just over four seconds remaining, Montalvo hit a three-pointer from the left corner to give the Cats a 35-32 advantage at halftime.
 
Leading by four in the second half, the Bobcats went on a 14-2 run that spanned nearly four minutes behind four long distance shots. Two of the treys came from Montalvo and K.J. Malveau and Gilder-Tilbury made one each.
 
Gant made two free throws to give Texas State its largest lead of the game, 70-52, with 3:26 remaining in the contest. USA was able to pull to within seven with just over 22 seconds left on the clock but the Bobcats scored the four final points to seal their double-digit victory.
 
Texas State finishes up their road trip with a 4:15 p.m. contest on Saturday at Troy.