Brandon Love
65
Winner Texas St. TXST 15-18,6-12 Sun Belt
36
Old Dominion ODU 19-12,11-7 Sun Belt
Winner
Texas St. TXST
15-18,6-12 Sun Belt
65
Final
36
Old Dominion ODU
19-12,11-7 Sun Belt
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Texas St. TXST 32 33 65
Old Dominion ODU 14 22 36

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Bobcats Beat ODU by 29, Advance to Quarterfinals

The 36 points allowed by Texas State were the fewest in a Sun Belt tournament game since 2015

PENSACOLA, Fla. – With the largest win in a Sun Belt tournament game in four years, Texas State took down No. 6 seed Old Dominion 65-36 in the second round of the Sun Belt Basketball Championship on Thursday at the Pensacola Bay Center.
 
The Bobcats (15-18, 6-12 Sun Belt) became the first No. 11 seed in tournament history to reach the quarterfinals behind a defensive effort that saw the Monarchs (19-12, 11-7 Sun Belt) held to only 12 field goals and 23 percent shooting.
 
The 29-point margin of victory was the largest in the conference tournament since ULM beat Coastal Carolina by 30 in 2019.
 
The 36 points, meanwhile, were the fewest surrendered in a Sun Belt tournament contest since the 2015 championship game (Georgia State held Georgia Southern to 36 in a 38-36 win).
 
The Bobcats flew out to a big lead as they scored 16 of the game's first 17 points and led by as much as 20 on three occasions in the first half. Texas State led 32-14 at halftime and ended the game needing only five points to win. The 14 points allowed were also the fewest by a Texas State opponent in the first half of a Sun Belt tournament game.
 
The Bobcats forced ODU to miss its first seven shots and were only 2-of-19 from the field to start the game. On the other side, the Bobcats made their first six shots and were 12-of-24 in the first half.

Texas State did not let relent in the second half as it outscored ODU, 33-22, in the final 20 minutes.
 
Mason Harrell had 20 points to lead the Texas State offense, which matched his career-high for a Sun Belt tournament game. He had 12 of his 20 in the 32-point first half.
 
Nighael Ceaser had 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting (2-of-3 from three-point range).
 
Texas State will play No. 3 seed Marshall in Saturday's quarterfinals at 5 pm. The game will be shown on ESPN+.

FROM HEAD COACH TERRENCE JOHNSON
"What a game. One of our best performances all year. We guarded the way that led us to two championships, back-to-back in this conference. I'm proud of these guys. They came out with great energy. Great focus. We played simple, selfless, smart basketball. Credit goes to the players for executing the game plan. And coach (Donte) Mathis did a very, very good job in getting these guys prepared."

POSTGAME NOTES
This is the first time Texas State has won two games in the Sun Belt tournament since 2017.
 
While Texas State is the first No. 11 seed to ever make the Sun Belt quarterfinals, it is the fourth team ranked No. 11 or higher. Last year, No. 12 Little Rock reached the quarters.
 
Texas State outrebounded ODU, 43-32.
 
Tyrel Morgan led the Bobcats with 11 rebounds, which were two shy of his season-high.
 
The Bobcats outscored the Monarchs in the paint, 34-16.
 
The 23.1 percent field goal shooting by ODU was the lowest allowed by Texas State in a game this season.
 
The 36 points allowed were also the fewest allowed by Texas State against a Division I opponent since January 11, 2014 (vs. ULM; W, 61-36).
 
Texas State's largest lead in the game was 33 points (65-32).
 
Mason Harrell played in his 144th career game, tying the program record for most ever (other: Shelby Adams).
 
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