SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State men's basketball team (21-5, 10-3 Sun Belt) will put its four-game winning streak on the line with two games in the Strahan Arena this week. The Bobcats will open the weekend with Blackout Night at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 vs. ULM (13-11, 6-6 Sun Belt) before concluding the regular season home schedule on Senior Day at 4 p.m. on Feb. 23 vs. Louisiana (15-10, 6-6 Sun Belt).
 
Fans are encouraged to wear black attire on Feb. 21 or purchase a jersey look-a-like t-shirt online here or by visiting the bookstore. We will also honor the 2019 Texas State women's track and field Sun Belt Champions as well as the 2018 volleyball Sun Belt Champions. On Feb. 23, senior forward Alex Peacock, senior guard Tre'Larenz Nottingham, and senior student-manager Carrington Rodriguez will all be recognized.

After sweeping the weekend, the Bobcats are receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll and with another victory, they will register 22 regular season wins, a feat they have not done since the 1993-94 season.
 
GAME INFORMATION – ULM
7 p.m. CST | Strahan Arena
WATCH: ESPN+ - Brant Freeman (PxP), Cordell Patrick (Color Analyst)
LISTEN: TuneIn App and AM1300 – Bill Culhane (PxP)
FOLLOW: Live Stats
 
GAME INFORMATION – LOUISIANA
4 p.m. CST | Strahan Arena
WATCH: ESPN+ - Brant Freeman (PxP), Cordell Patrick (Color Analyst)
LISTEN: TuneIn App or AM 1300 – Bill Culhane (PxP)
FOLLOW: Live Stats
 
ABOUT TEXAS STATE
The Bobcats are receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll for the third time this year. They are also ranked No. 19 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll, marking the 10th consecutive TXST appearance. Last weekend, TXST went on the road to defeat Arkansas State 84-74 on Feb. 14, and then Little Rock 67-60 on Feb. 16 to complete its third and fourth season series sweep, respectively. Texas State currently leads the Sun Belt Conference by one game and leans on a strong defensive identity that paces the league in scoring defense (64.0 ppg), defensive field goal percentage (40.3), and defensive 3-point field goal percentage (29.1). Due to their success on defense, the Bobcats lead the conference in scoring margin (10.8) and do so with successful ball movement as they turn in a league- best 15.5 assists per game.

A productive season continues for junior guard Nijal Pearson as he jumped to No. 5 in all-time scoring for the Bobcats with a total of 1,459 points. Pearson leads the team with an 18.5 scoring average (No. 7 in Sun Belt) and Nottingham follows at 13.7 points per game (No. 17 in Sun Belt). Both Pearson and Nottingham are prolific 3-point shooters that rank second and third, respectively, in 3-point field goals made and field goal percentage. Pearson's 71 triples are tied for No. 3 in the program's history and his 166-career made 3-pointers sits No. 4 in the school's record book. Nottingham has 68 made 3-pointers on the season tied at No. 8 in the school's record book.
 
Senior forward Alex Peacock averages 8.5 points and leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game (No. 13 in Sun Belt). Junior guard Jaylen Shead averages 7.6 points per game, leads the league with a 2.7 assists-to-turnover ratio, and is tied at No. 2 in the conference with 5.0 assists per game.
 
ABOUT ULM
The Warhawks have had an up-and-down season in conference play. After defeating both Georgia schools to get over .500 in league play for the third time, ULM fell to LA 83-76, placing them in a three-way tie for fifth place (Louisiana and Coastal Carolina) with a 6-6 record. ULM brings a dynamic offense to town who averages 78.2 points per game (No. 4 in Sun Belt) and leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage (39.4) knocking down 9.8 triples per game.  
 
Senior guard Daishon Smith, a transfer from Wichita State, paces the league by averaging 22.0 points, 42.5 percent shooting from 3-point territory, and 2.2 steals per game. He also ranks No. 5 in the conference with 3.9 assists per contest. Smith is joined by three other teammates who average double-digit scoring, including two in the top 20 of the Sun Belt. Sophomore guard Michael Ertel averages 15.3 points (No. 14 in Sun Belt) and senior forward Travis Munnings scores 13.6 points (No. 18 in Sun Belt) while leading the team in rebounding at 7.6 per game (No. 7 in Sun Belt). Junior guard JD Williams rounds out the top scorers for ULM with 12.7 points per game.
 
The Bobcats trail the Warhawks in the all-time series 23-29 but are 4-1 in the last five matchups and have won the last two meeting played in Strahan Arena. TXST was riding a four-game winning streak over ULM the last time the faced off before they fell 79-71 on Feb. 17, 2018 in Monroe, La.
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA
After a three-game homestand where the Ragin' Cajuns finished 2-1, including the victory over ULM, they now return to the road where they post a 4-6 record this season. Although LA can score in bunches, averaging 83.0 points per game (No. 2 in Sun Belt), they have challenges defending and relinquish a league-worst 82.3 points per game. LA will take on UTA Feb. 21 before traveling to San Marcos, Texas.
 
Senior forward Jakeenan Gant leads the Ragin' Cajuns with 21.0 points (No. 4 in Sun Belt) on 55.0 percent shooting from the floor (No. 2 in Sun Belt) and grabs 8.3 rebounds per game (No. 2 in the Sun Belt). He is followed by senior guard Malik Marquetti's 15.1 scoring average who has done so in only 13 games this year. Completing the top scorers for LA is senior guard Marcus Stroman's 12.2 points per game. Stroman also leads the league with 6.4 assists and registers 2.1 steals per game (No. 2 in Sun Belt).
 
Louisiana has dominated the all-time series vs. Texas State, boasting a 12-1 record. The last win for the Bobcats over the Ragin' Cajuns was a 61-57 decision in Strahan Arena on Feb. 20, 2016. The last time these two teams played each other was in the semifinals of last year's Sun Belt Conference Tournament where LA won, 80-54.

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