Bobcats Sweep Away Dustdevils in Strahan

The Texas State men's basketball team improved their defense in shutting down the Texas A&M International Dustdevils in the second half in a 71-60 final score from Strahan Coliseum.

The Bobcats started out sluggish on offense shooting only 38 percent from the field in the first ten minutes of the game. The Dustdevils, a Division II team that plays in the Heartland Conference, came into this game with a 2-4 record. TAMIU showed a lot of talent on the floor, giving the Bobcats all they could handle. Luis Gomez got things started for the Dustdevils; hitting two three-pointers to get things rolling. The Dustdevils led early in the game, but it didn't take long for the 'Cats to get back on top.

Head Coach Doug Davalos kept the substitutions coming, seeking for a solid group that could start to put together some offense. While the offense remained stagnant, the Bobcat defense was playing very well. The Bobcats were able to keep the lead in the midst of a seven minute long scoring drought; which showed the fans at Strahan the game was going to be a low scoring event. In the waning seconds of the first half, Ryan White finally started the fire stealing a pass and hitting a buzzer beater to end the half. The 'Cats went into the locker room up by only two points, 29-27.

At the start of the second half, the Bobcats looked more crisp on offense scoring as many points in the first ten minutes of the second half as they did in the entire first half. The 'Cats never looked back, while the Dustdevils stayed in the game with their free-throw shooting; showing why they will be a tough team to beat in the Heartland Conference. The Bobcats got a good showing from Ryan White, who's back at the realm of point guard after being out for the first 4 games due to an injury suffered in October. White put together a good performance scoring 10 points in 24 minutes worth of play. Cameron Johnson led all scores in the game and finishing one rebound shy of a double-double. Sophomore Guard, John Bowman, also showed his grittiness on defense while attacking the basket getting himself 13 points on the night.

The Bobcats needed this win to snap a five-game losing streak. This game also marked the first time the 'Cats had seen the home court since their opener on November 13th. Overall, Head Coach Doug Davalos was pleased with his team's performance, but still wants to see his team get better each game while in non-conference play. The Bobcats next game will take place in Strahan Coliseum where they will face Texas Pan-Am at 4:00 p.m. You can catch all the action on txstatebobcats.com.

-James McNeal, KTSW Sports Staff Writer