SAN MARCOS, Texas – The 2023-24 home opener for the Texas State men's basketball team against I-35 rival UTSA on Friday night did not disappoint. Both teams slugged it out in Strahan Arena with the Bobcats coming out on top 72-62.
 
It was TXST's first win over the Roadrunners since 2018 and the first in San Marcos since Dec. 2, 2015.
 
Leading the way for the Bobcats was Brandon Love with his second double-double of the season. He matched his career-high with 18 points and set a new career best of 14 rebounds. He also blocked four shots to give him nine rejections over the last two games.
 
Christian Turner led all scorers with a career-high 19 points on 4-of-8 shooting while knocking down 10-of-12 free throw attempts. The junior also had five rebounds and two assists.
 
Also finishing with double-digits points was Johsua O'Garro. He totaled 13 points, six rebounds and a game-high three steals.
 
The Bobcats jumped out to an 8-2 advantage that was capped off by an alley-oop dunk by O'Garro off a pass from Kaden Gumbs. Thrice the Roadrunners would fight back to tie the contest until they eventually went ahead 20-17 on a three-pointer courtesy of Dre Fuller, Jr. at the 6:43 mark of the opening half.
 
Over the next five minutes, Texas State held the visitors scoreless while netting eight points to take a five-point advantage. It would just be a 27-25 lead heading into halftime with five of the final seven points of the period being scored by UTSA.
 
Fuller hit a jumper nearly 60 seconds into the second half that gave the Roadrunners a 29-28 lead. The Bobcats responded with a 6-0 run to take the lead for good. UTSA would not go away though, as the visitors twice got to within a point with the last being at 48-47 at the 8:52 mark.
 
Free throw shooting allowed TXST to close out the contest. Over the final 20 minutes, the hosts attempted 35 shots from the charity stripe and knocked 21 of them down while overall making 27-of-43 attempts. It was the most free throws taken in a game since shooting 55 against Our Lady of the Lake on Nov. 24, 2010.
 
Next for the Bobcats is the Louisiana Tech MTE that takes place Nov. 21-22 in Ruston, Louisiana. First up will be McNeese followed by a contest against Southern Utah. Both games will start at 12 p.m.
 
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