SAN MARCOS, Texas – The final game prior to the Christmas break sees Texas State travel to take on third-ranked Houston (11-0) on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Fertitta Center.
 
Fans can catch the action on ESPN+ and on the Varsity Sports Network with Clint Shields on the call. Live stats will also be available to follow.
 
About Texas State
Heading into Thursday's contest, the Bobcats have won three straight after defeating LeTourneau 110-68 on Monday. Five players finished in double-figures led by Brandon Love's career-high 21-point effort. The junior forward currently leads the Sun Belt Conference with 32 blocks and 2.9 per contest, both ranking fourth in the nation.
 
Jordan Mason scored 18 points for the second game in a row as he went 7-for-9 from the field and made both of his three-point attempts versus the Yellowjackets. The sophomore was named the Sun Belt's Player of the Week on Tuesday after averaging 19.0 points, 5.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game in two victories last week against Jarvis Christian and at Sam Houston. For the season, Mason is putting up 17.4 ppg while shooting 47.5% from the field and has converted 27-fo-34 (79.4%) free throw attempts.
 
Love is netting 12.2 ppg and is grabbing 5.8 rpg. Also with double-digit scoring averages are Dylan Dawson (10.5) and Kaden Gumbs (10.1), who is dishing out a team best 4.4 apg. The freshman is tied for second on the team with 11 steals along with Love and Mason while Joshua O'Garro paces the squad with 13 swipes.
 
About Houston
The Cougars are one of the last four remaining undefeated teams in the country along with James Madison, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. Nine of UH's victories have been by double-digits with the two single-digit contests being at Xavier (66-60) and versus Texas A&M (70-66) on Dec. 1 and 16, respectively.
 
L.J. Cryer leads the team in scoring at 17.7 ppg and is making 39.8% of his attempts from beyond the arc with 40 made three-pointers. Also putting up double-figures is Emmanel Sharp at 13.6 ppg. Jamal Shead runs the offense and enters having dished out 70 assists while netting 9.4 ppg. He also comes in with a team-high 27 steals.
 
Just shy of putting together a double-double is J'Wan Roberts at 8.2 ppg and team-high 7.8 rpg. Recording double-digit blocks has been Ja'Vier Francis (16) and Joseph Tugler (15).
 
All-Time Series vs. Cougars
Houston leads the all-time series 14-2 and have won the last four meetings. Last time the teams faced off was Dec. 22, 2021 with the Cougars winning 80-47 at home.
 
The only two wins for the Bobcats came in San Marcos with the last being an 81-78 contest on Dec. 6, 2011. The first came on Dec. 9, 2002 and saw TXST come out on top 68-59.
 
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