SAN MARCOS, Texas – The 2022-23 season for the back-to-back defending Sun Belt Conference men's basketball regular season champions Texas State begins on Monday on the road against Washington State. Tip of the game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT in Beasley Coliseum.
 
The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Washington (cable subscription required) with Greg Heister and Dan Dickau on the call. Fans can also catch the game on the Varsity Sports Network and KTSW 89.9 FM with Clint Shields providing the action. Live stats will also be available.
 
About Texas State
In the Bobcats lone exhibition game, they defeated Cameron 90-65 led by Brandon Davis netting 23 points. Also finishing with double-digit points was Brandon Love (13), Nate Martin (10) and Tyrel Morgan (16).
 
TXST returns nine players from last season including two starters in Mason Harrell and Martin. Harrell is the top returner scorer after averaging 11.7 points per game while shooting 47.6% from the field, 40.3% on three-pointers and converting 84.4% of his free throws. The fifth-year senior was also selected to the All-Sun Belt Conference Preseason First Team.
 
Other key returners are Nighael Ceaser (8.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Drue Drinnon (3.8 ppg) and Morgan (4.2 rpg).
 
Five newcomers join the team with three transfers and two true freshmen. Arriving from Florida are both Tuongthach Gatkek and Elijah Kennedy while Davis comes from Loyola New Orleans. Freshmen on the squad are Jordan Mason out of San Antonio and Davion Sykes, whose father – David – played at Texas State from 1999-03.
 
About Washington State
Last season, the Cougars went 22-15 and finished tied for fifth in the Pac-12 with Oregon and Washington with an 11-9 mark. WSU competed in the NIT and reached the semifinals where it fell to Texas A&M. In this year's preseason poll, the Cougars were picked to finish eight in the league.
 
The two returning starters are TJ Bamba (7.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Mouhamed Gueye (7.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg), who was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and was a five-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week. WSU brought in Division I transfers Jabe Mullins (St. Mary's) and Justin Powell (Tennessee).
 
All-Time Series
The Cougars won the only other meeting 78-73 in overtime between the teams that took place in Pullman on Dec. 18, 2015. That night saw Emani Gant lead Texas State with 24 points and seven rebounds. Ethan Montalvo and Anthony Roberson added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Current graduate assistant coach Ojai Black played a team-high 41 minutes and recorded a game-high three steals.
 
Only One
Harrell is the only player in Texas State history to have recorded 1,000 points and 300 assists. The fifth-year senior enters the season having scored 1,049 points and dished out 306 assists. He currently ranks 21st in program history for points and needs 13 more to jump into 19th-place while he sits fifth in assists and is 22 shy of moving up a spot.
 
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