SAN MARCOS, Texas- The University of Texas-Pan American men's basketball team made a valiant second half comeback, rallying from as many as 19 points down to tie the game, but ultimately suffered a disappointing 82-70 defeat to the Texas State Bobcats Tuesday night at Strahan Coliseum. The loss was the eighth straight for UTPA and the second this season to the Bobcats.
The Broncs (3-14) held an 11-8 lead at the 14:22 mark of the first half after senior forward Matt Mierzycki nailed a jumper. The Bobcats (5-9) responded with a 13-0 run with Uriel Segura capping it off with the final five points, including a three, to take a 21-11 lead with 9:31 remaining until the intermission.
With 2:23 remaining in the first half JB Conley hit a jumper to increase the Bobcat lead to 15 at 39-24. Conley's jumper started a 9-4 Bobcat run though the end of the first half. At the break Texas State held a 45-28 lead.
The Broncs began the second half strong by scoring the first five points on a Brandon Provost jumper and a Perry Petty three-pointer to cut the Texas State lead to 45-33. This five-point burst was the start of an 11-3 run, which brought UTPA back within four at 48-44 with 15:22 remaining in the game.
Later in the half Travis Jones hit a pair of threes on a Bobcat 8-2 run to push the lead back to double digits at 60-50 with 12:01 remaining in the contest. The resilient Broncs began another comeback a few moments later.
The Bobcats led 62-52 with 10:45 remaining after a Conley lay-up. The Broncs stepped up on both ends of the floor holding Texas State without a field goal for the next 4:57. On offense UTPA went on a 14-4 run to tie the game at 66, just the third tie of the game. However, UTPA would not regain the lead. The Bobcats would grab control right back finishing the game on a 16-4 run to win 82-70.
Provost tied his career high with 17 points to lead the charge for UTPA, including shooting 50% from beyond the arc (3/6). Matt Mierzycki tallied season highs for points and rebounds with 16 and 12 respectively for his first double-double of the season. Petty, the Broncs leading scorer scored 13 points to go along with four assists and two steals. Free –throw shooting was UTPA's Achilles heel on Tuesday as they went 19 for 30 from the line (63%).
Cameron Johnson was extremely efficient for the Bobcats scoring 19 points with six rebounds in just 26 minutes of action. Ryan White chipped in with 13 and Matt Staff added 11. Segura and Jones added 10 apiece off the bench. The Bobcats shot 46% from the field for the game and made 26 of 36 free throw attempts.
The Broncs continue their seven-game road trip next Wednesday when they travel to Newark, NJ to face the Highlanders of the New Jersey Institute of Technology in their first Great West Conference match-up of the season. Tip-off is set for 4:00 PM CT.
