Box Score SAN MARCOS, Texas - For the fourth time this season and third time in Sun Belt Conference play, Appalachian State University men's basketball was on the wrong end of a one-point decision in a 69-68 loss at Texas State on Thursday.
Despite committing 14 turnovers that led to 22 Texas State points, the Mountaineers (6-18, 4-9 Sun Belt) overcame a game-high 12-point deficit and seven-point halftime deficit to take a 57-56 lead with 8:06 to play. The Bobcats (10-12, 4-9 Sun Belt) and Mountaineers would trade leads three times before the Black and Gold turned in a four-point possession with 1:10 left.
Frank Eaves would get fouled on a layup attempt, which led to a technical foul call on the Bobcats' head coach Danny Kaspar. Down 64-62, Eaves sank four-straight free throws to give App State a 66-64 advantage. However, the ensuing possession turned in a three-point dagger from the Bobcats' Ethan Montalvo with 57 seconds to play.
On the next possession, an Eaves turnover would lead to a fouling situation for Appalachian. With 25 seconds remaining, Texas State's Emani Grant made two free throws to give the Bobcats a 69-66 lead. Gant finished with a game-high 26 points on the night.
Appalachian would bring the ball up in a hurry and
Jacob Lawson would connect on a layup to bring App State to within one.
On the ensuing inbounds play, Texas State attempted to pass the ball out of bounds to another Bobcat player, but he didn't establish himself out of bounds and therefore give the Mountaineers would get one more crack at a victory with 15 seconds left.
Texas State played stout defense and forced
Ronshad Shabazz into a tough long-distance three-point attempt that would clang off the iron.
Eaves led the way for the Mountaineers with 13 points, while
Chris Burgess turned in 12 and Shabazz and Lawson finished with 11 and 10, respectively. This marked the fourth game this season that Appalachian posted four double-digit scorers.
The Mountaineers will return to the court on Saturday, Feb. 13 when they travel to Arlington, Texas for a showdown with UT Arlington. Tip time is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
