SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State men's basketball team (11-15, 4-9 Sun Belt) looks to bounce back after seeing its four-game winning streak end Thursday with a meeting against Southern Miss (14-12, 7-6 Sun Belt) on Saturday. The game is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. from inside Reed Green Coliseum.
 
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
The Bobcats are looking for their second road win in conference play. Their lone road victory against a Sun Belt team was at ULM on Jan. 13. Saturday is the second of four consecutive games away from Strahan Arena for TXST.
 
Ever since Davion Sykes entered the starting lineup at the beginning of the month, he has been a force to deal with for opposing teams. The sophomore is averaging a double-double of 14.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while going 29-for-53 (54.7%) from the floor in that time.
 
Overall, Jordan Mason continues to lead the team at 12.5 ppg and making a team best 77.1% of his free throws. The sophomore is second on the team with 56 assists and 26 steals. Brandon Love enters the game netting 10.8 ppg and grabbing 5.8 rpg. He has blocked 42 shots, which ranks fourth in the Sun Belt and is tied for the fifth most by a TXST player in a season.
 
Kaden Gumbs is dishing out 3.5 assists a contest, which ranks fifth in the conference. His 29 steals and 56 made three throws also leads the Bobcats while he is scoring 9.1 ppg.
 
Both Coleton Benson and Dylan Dawson are threats from beyond the arc. Benson has knocked down 24 three-pointers at a team-high 42.1% mark. Dawson is shooting 33.3% from deep with a team best 42 made triples.
 
About Southern Miss
Thursday night saw the Golden Eagles fall to ULM 68-59. It was their first defeat at home against a Sun Belt opponent since joining the league, a span of 14 consecutive wins. Saturday is the fourth of six straight home games.
 
Austin Crowley leads the squad in scoring (16.2), made field goals (138), made three-pointers (46) and assists (86). The league's preseason player of the year is second on the team with 31 steals and 116 total rebounds. Victor Hart has grabbed a team-high 6.1 rpg and is netting 13.2 ppg but has only played once since Jan. 11, that being last Saturday against Western Michigan.
 
Also with a double-digit scoring average is Donovan Ivory at 13.2 ppg. He has made 45 three-pointers and is shooting a team best 40.9% from beyond the arc while also recording a team-high 33 steals.
 
Victor Iwuakor, the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Week, is averaging 9.2 ppg and 5.9 rpg with a team leading 56 blocks. His 53.1 shooting percentage is also the best on the team.
 
All-Time Series vs. Golden Eagles
Southern Miss leads the all-time series 2-1. Texas State won its first-ever game in the series back on Feb. 3 in San Marcos by a score of 60-55. That day saw Love record a double-double of 15 points and career-high 14 rebounds.
 
The first-ever meeting between the teams took place in Hattiesburg on Jan. 28, 2023. The Golden Eagles were victorious 67-58 as both Nighael Ceaser and Mason scored 12 points apiece for the Bobcats.
 
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