MONROE, La. – A three-game winning streak came to an end Saturday afternoon for Texas State in another road battle that saw ULM come away with a 61-58 win in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
"Obviously, we're disappointed in the outcome. For the most part I thought the effort was there. We have a way to go to be the team that we are hoping to be," said head coach
Terrence Johnson. "Credit ULM, those guys fought the whole game and made the plays they needed to. We have to regroup and get ourselves ready for Thursday."
A rough start offensively saw the Bobcats miss their first 13 shots of the game with multiple attempts rattling in and out. The defense kept them in the game as the Warhawks only led 8-2 after the first nine minutes.
Davion Coleman lifted the lid on the bucket with a jumper at the 10:47 mark. Beginning with that shot, TXST ended the first half making 11-of-18 shots including the last four to take a 25-22 lead into the break.
The Bobcats would maintain the lead for the first 12 minutes of the second half until four straight points allowed ULM to take a one-point advantage. The teams traded baskets with the last lead for Texas State coming on a three-pointer at the 5:05 mark from
Mason Harrell to go up 50-49.
A 6-1 run gave the hosts a four-point lead. After
Drue Drinnon made two free throws, Nate Marin blocked a shot with the ball falling to Drinnon. He passed to Harrell and the fifth-year senior converted a layup to tie the game at 55.
With 29 seconds on the clock, the Warhawks' Jamari Blackmon started to drive and gave a stiff arm to Harrell that pushed him five feet away for an open look that put ULM up for good. Harrell cut the deficit to 59-58 as he converted an old-fashion three-point play with 4.0 showing on the game clock.
Following two more Warhawk free throws,
Tyrel Morgan thew the in-bound pass to
Nate Martin near midcourt with an ensuing pass finding an open Drinnon deep on the right wing. His attempt was on target but came up just short as the clock hit zero.
Harrell ended the game with 17 points and dished out three assists. Morgan finished with a game-high seven rebounds and totaled three assists and two steals. Setting a new season-high with three dimes was
Jordan Mason.
The first of three straight home games for the Bobcats takes place Thursday against Marshall at 7 p.m.
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