Box Score

Monroe, La. – Using its best defensive performance in nearly 30 years, the Texas State men's basketball team earned its first Sun Belt victory in program history, defeating ULM 61-36, Saturday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe, La. It's the fewest points by a Bobcat opponent since allowing 35 to Grambling in 1985.

The Bobcats tightened their grip on the Warhawks in the second half, allowing ULM to shoot just 11.5 percent, holding the opponent to 3-of-26 from the field. ULM went over eight minutes without a point as Texas State went on a 12-0 run from the 8:49 mark until ULM's final layup with 17 seconds to go.

The Bobcats were stingy from both inside and outside the arc. ULM was held to 4-of-20 from three-point range (20.0 percent) and 10-of-33 from inside the arc (30.3 percent). The effort contributed to the Warhawks scoring their fewest points at home since Jan. 14, 1958 when they scored 32 against McNeese State.

Offensively, Texas State had its most efficient night of the season, shooting 57.1 percent (24-of-42). Joel Wright tied for the game-high with 14 points and had his third double-double of the season with 10 rebounds. Wright also chipped in with three assists, a block and a steal.

Texas State led wire to wire in the first half, jumping out to a 7-0 lead to begin the game. Kavin Gilder-Tilbury capped the run with a straight-away three, scoring five of the team's first seven points.

Wes Davis, who missed the first two Sun Belt Conference games, used his acrobatics to hit an off-balance jumper and convert the and-one opportunity to give the team a 17-11 advantage, enroute to a 35-27 lead at halftime. Davis finished his first game back with 14 points and a steal.

Texas State will continue its current two-game roadtrip on Monday night with a game at Louisiana Lafayette. The game is at 6:05 p.m., and will be available on ESPN 3 as part of the Sun Belt Network. For those who cannot watch the game, it is available on KTSW 89.9 FM and www.txstatebobcats.com.