University Star

After trailing by double digits in the second half against Sam Houston State Wednesday, the men’s basketball team found themselves in familiar territory against Texas-San Antonio this weekend.

The Roadrunners opened with a comfortable lead early in the match, but the Bobcats found a way to rally late. Unlike the match-up with the Bearkats, the Bobcats lost the contest, 88-84.

Eddie Rios, junior guard, added a solid game to his string of offensive production, contributing 20 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Texas State drops to 7-11 overall with the loss and 2-2 in Southland Conference play, while the Roadrunners improve to 9-8 and 3-2 in the league.

The Bobcats sunk enough baskets to keep the game close after falling into a 21-9 hole early in the first half. Texas State allowed UTSA to hit consecutive three-pointers, stretching the margin to 17 points through the course of the second half.

Texas State’s rally began with Travis Jones, junior guard, who hit five shots from behind the arc to bring the score within one point of the Bearkats and 3:35 left to play.

After the Roadrunners answered with a pair of free throws, Cameron Johnson, senior forward, found his way to the line in consecutive possessions and nailed all four of them, giving Texas State its first lead of the game, 84-83. Johnson was one of four Bobcats in double figures with 16 points. Rios, Jones and Tony Bishop, senior forward, posted 17 points.

Texas State had a chance to tie the game or go for the win, but Ryan White, senior guard, rebounded Rios’ air ball from deep. White missed the layup, and the Roadrunners seized the rebound to seal their victory.

The Bobcats continue conference play as they host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 7 p.m. Wednesday in Strahan Coliseum.