SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State men's basketball team (6-8, 0-2 Sun Belt) opened its home conference slate Thursday night with a 71-63 setback to Coastal Carolina (4-9, 1-1 Sun Belt) inside Strahan Arena.
 
Leading the Bobcats offensively for the second straight game was Coleton Benson as he netted 15 points. He knocked down two three-pointers and connected on all five of his free throw attempts while dishing out three assists.
 
Both Dylan Dawson and Jordan Mason scored nine points apiece. Dawson made three shots from beyond the arc and handed out two dimes. Mason finished the evening with six assists, five rebounds and one block.
 
Davion Sykes made his season debut and played 17 minutes off the bench. The sophomore forward scored eight points, all in the second half, grabbed four boards and recorded three steals.
 
After the Chanticleers scored on the opening possession of the game, neither team could find a bucket until Mason hit a jumper at the 17:22 mark. That field goal started a 6-0 run for TXST that also layups from Brandon Love and Christian Turner.
 
CCU answered back with a 14-2 run with the only made field goal for the Bobcats being a backdoor layup courtesy of Benson.
 
The Bobcats chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied the game on an old-fashion three-point play by Mason at the 5:05 mark. After a Chanticleer layup, Dawson hit a trey from the left corner to put Texas back in front.
 
CCU responded with a triple of their own a minute later to go back ahead. Kaden Gumbs, who finished the night with three steals, converted an and-1 opportunity with just under three minutes left in the half to again give TXST the advantage and it would extend to 30-28 after a made charity stripe attempt by Love.
 
Five of the final six points of the period were netted by the Chanticleers as they took a 33-31 advantage into halftime. They came out of the break and extended their lead to seven.
 
A three-pointer by Benson with 10:08 showing on the clock knotted the score at 49. However, the Bobcats would go cold over the next seven-plus minutes, making just 1-of-9 attempts, as the Chanticleers took their largest lead of the game at 61-52.
 
Texas State battled back and cut the deficit to two following two Benson made free throws ticks remaining. CCU's defense would prevent any good looks for the Bobcats while the visitors scored the final six points of the night to claim the victory.
 
Next up for TXST is a home contest against Marshall on Saturday that tips at 4 p.m.
 
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