Mustangs Trample Bobcats' Winning Streak

The Texas State men’s basketball team came to Dallas tonight with a swagger fresh off a two-game winning streak to take on the SMU Mustangs. Yes, they did lose 94-86 and were not favored to win, but it was a game that showed they are not a doormat. The Bobcats were down by as much as 21 points and got within five with under two minutes to go, demanding respect from SMU. In other games they were down by 21 and didn’t come together to claw their way back.

“They had a lot of fight in them,” said Texas State head Coach Doug Davalos.
Texas State started off slow, slacking on defense and the Mustangs took an early lead. The Bobcats were down by nineteen at one point, and a big reason was SMU’s torrid three-point shooting, making 69 percent of their threes in the first half.

“It’s my fault, I didn’t get them out playing aggressive enough,” said Davalos
But Texas State out-rebounded and scored more points in the paint than SMU, which helped them cut the deficit to eleven, with a halftime score of 52-41. They continued the trend, opening the second half with a 7-0 run. But the Mustangs gathered themselves and raised their lead to 21 points.

This is where the Bobcats proved they are not a doormat. Segura, Bishop, and Conley each had 18 points in the game and the team only had two turnovers in the second half. This combined with Rybak’s three-pointer made it a five-point game with under two minutes remaining. However, they couldn’t put the reins on the Mustangs for the final minute-and-a-half. Though they left Dallas with a loss, they displayed an encouraging won’t-back-down performance. Coach Davalos was disappointed his squad couldn’t hold on to the game but said he is still proud of his team. It is not a popular term with many people but this was a moral victory.

The basketball team needs to take this resilience to Austin this Saturday as they face the number two Texas Longhorns. The odds are exponentially against them to come away with a win, but it is vital they hold their heads high. The Bobcats have youth and talent. Now they need to believe in themselves to gain control.

-Tim Leeland, KTSW Sports Staff Writer