College Basketball: Bobcats maul Bears

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Texas State junior guard Vonn Jones posted eight points and five assists in 14 minutes in the Bobcats’ 94-63 win over Central Arkansas. State improved to 2-8 in conference play. Gerald Castillo

February 9, 2012

By Tyler Mayforth Daily Record Sports The San Marcos Record Thu Feb 09, 2012, 04:36 PM CST

San Marcos — If Texas State is going to climb its way up from the basement of the Southland Conference, it’s going to be one game and one step at a time.

The Bobcats started their trek in a big way Wednesday night, thumping Central Arkansas, 94-63. It was Texas State’s second conference win and first victory since Jan. 14, snapping a six-game losing streak.

With the win, the Bobcats moved into a tie for 10th place in the SLC with Southeastern Louisiana. The Bears fell to 12th.

“It felt really good, but we have a long way to go to get to Katy,” senior guard Travis Jones said. “We need to keep winning and keep playing together.”

Texas State made quick work of UCA, settling into its game plan early. The Bobcats furiously attacked the glass (16 second-chance points), pounded the ball inside (24 points in the paint) and allowed their transition offense to run off turnovers (13 points off eight miscues by the Bears).

Jones set a tone in the first half with 11 points and nine rebounds (four offensive), while junior forward Matt Staff filled the box score (two points, three offensive rebounds, two assists and four blocks).

Junior forward Gordon Ball, who scored six points and grabbed seven boards in 11 minutes on the floor, filled in tremendously when Staff was on the bench, even hitting a short jumper to put Texas State up 47-32 at halftime.

“He may have been the most-key player, because we have been waiting for that,” Bobcats head coach Doug Davalos said. “We’ve been waiting for him to produce quality things.

“He didn’t even get to play last game and a lot of it is because he got himself in the doghouse, but he came out and played really well. Next time we take the floor, he’s going to be the first big that comes in off the bench, because he earned it.”

Ball also handed out two assists and was one of four players for Texas State with two or more dimes. Junior guard Vonn Jones continued his selfless play with five assists, while junior forward Brooks Ybarra (three) and Staff (two) chipped in as well.

Ybarra led all scorers with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting. He knocked down five 3-pointers, including one during an 11-0 run to start the game and two more when the Bobcats opened up their lead in the second half.

“To come out like we did, it just gave us the boost we needed to finally get our first win in six games,” Ybarra said. “We just got it done.”

Next up for Texas State is UT-Arlington, a team that handed Davalos’ bunch an 82-79 loss two weeks ago. A win won’t only snap the Mavericks’ current 14-game win streak, but give the Bobcats a win streak of their own — and momentum moving forward.

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College Basketball: Bobcats maul Bears

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