Bobcat Men Rebound from Drubbing at Sam, Take OT Win at Lamar

It took a little extra in Beaumont.

After suffering a 30+ point thrashing in Huntsville on Wednesday night, the Texas State men's basketball team came through with a crucial 97-92 overtime win at the Montagne Center.

The Bobcats came into Saturday's match up with the Lamar Cardinals with a 8 and 10 record just coming off a tough loss to conference rival Sam Houston State. Texas State was 2-2 in conference play, and were looking for a win that would put them above 500. Lamar came into the game with a record of 10 and 8, and they too were 2 and 2 in conference play coming off a loss to the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Islanders.

Texas State came out firing in the first half as they went on a 17-4 run before the first timeout was taken the Cardinals. The 'Cats played tough all half, and the Cardinals kept coming, but the Bobcats were able to hold off Lamar to keep the lead going into the half. At halftime the visitors led the Cardinals 36-35, and Cameron Johnson led the Bobcats with 10 points. J.B. Conley went 3 from 6 outside the arc to help the 'Cats from the bench. For Lamar, their leading scorer was Kendrick Harris with 10 points, while Coy Custer had 2 big blocks for the Cardinals.

While the Bobcats came out of halftime leading the Cardinals, they nonetheless lost the lead very soon after that. The 'Cats scored first, but eventually lost the lead going down by as much as eleven at one point. However, the 'Cats battled back, and came within one. Cameron Johnson had all the pressure on him as he came to the free throw line with 6 seconds. He made one and missed one to propel the Cardinals and 'Cats into overtime in Beaumont.

Texas State battled hard and eventually got the win in the extra period, 97-92. The victory moves the 'Cats to 3-2 in conference play, and moving them into the number 2 spot in the west division of the southland. Coming off of a huge effort two games ago against Central Arkansas, Cameron Johnson played the hero again for Texas State with a double double of 24 points and 21 rebounds. John Bowman scored 16 and went 2 of 6 from beyond the arc. The Cardinals were led by Kendrick Harris with 22 points and 2 rebounds. The Bobcats will pick up again in Southland play on Wednesday against arch rival UTSA at 7 P.M. in Strahan Coliseum. You can listen live Stretch Internet on txstatebobcats.com

-TJ Ladusky, KTSW Sports Staff Writer