SAN MARCOS, Texas – Free throws decided the Sun Belt Conference opener for the Texas State men's basketball team Thursday evening in Strahan Arena. The Bobcats made 15-of-19 shots but saw ULM get awarded 31 charity stripe shots and made 23 of them in the 57-53 win for the visitors.
 
With the loss, TXST drops to 7-7 on the year and 0-1 in the conference while the Warhawks improve to 5-9 and 1-0 in league play.
 
"There are no surprises in league play. You have to credit ULM as they came in and fought until the end. We had opportunities but could not capitalize on them," said head coach Terrence Johnson. "If you are playing at home and hold a team to 29% shooting from the field and 28% on threes, you like your chances. We struggled today getting a rhythm and flow."
 
Mason Harrell led all players with 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half. Also reaching double-figures for the Bobcats was Dylan Dawson as he knocked down three shots from beyond the arc.
 
Nighael Ceaser finished with 12 rebounds to record his third consecutive game with double-digit boards and is the first to accomplish the feat since Matt Staff did so from Feb. 22-29, 2022. The senior also matched his career-high of five blocks. Tyrel Morgan finished with eight rebounds with five on the offensive end and Brandon Love retrieved six boards.
 
ULM scored the first seven points of the game and held the lead for most of the opening stanza. Five straight points allowed the Bobcats to tie the game at 20. Following a made bucket by the visitors, Davion Coleman converted one of two at the free throw line and a minute later Tyrel Morgan put back a missed shot to put the Bobcats up 23-22 at the 5:04 mark.
 
The Warhawks responded by ended the half on a 10-2 run with the lone points for TXST being a Dawson jumper.
 
Texas State came out hot in the second half scoring the first 12 points to take a 37-32 advantage that was capped off by an old-fashion three-point play from Mason Harrell. That basket moved the senior guard into 10th on the Bobcats' all-time scoring list.
 
Over a seven minute span the Warhawks scored 13 of 19 points in the contest to go up by four with 2:21 left in the game. Harrell converted an and-1 opportunity with 90 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one, however, TXST was unable to make another basket as three free throws seals the win for ULM.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is Troy on Saturday. Tip is at 4 p.m. inside Strahan Arena to close out the five-game homestand.
 
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