SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State men's basketball team (12-9, 5-4 Sun Belt) is back home this week in Strahan Arena beginning Thursday night against Louisiana (6-15, 4-5 Sun Belt) at 7 p.m. It is also the team's annual White Out game.
Fans can catch the action on ESPN+ and on the Varsity Sports Network with Clint Sheilds on the call. Live stats will also be available to follow.
About Texas State
Saturday saw the Bobcats' three-game winning streak come to an end with a 15-point setback at Arkansas State. Thursday is the start of the second half of Sun Belt Conference play that will see TXST play six of the final nine league games in San Marcos. At home, Texas State is 7-1 this season and has won 13 of its last 14 games.
Tylan Pope has recorded seven consecutive double-digit scoring games and six straight with at least 18 points. He has increased his scoring average to a team leading 16.1 points per game, which ranks second in the Sun Belt. The forward is making a conference best 54.0% of his shots while adding 6.4 rebounds per game and 34 total blocks.
Contributing 14.4 ppg and 6.8 rpg is Tyrel Morgan. Kaden Gumbs enters netting 11.7 ppg while dishing out 4.5 assists a contest and leading the team with 31 steals. Also with a double-digit scoring average is Coleton Benson at 10.5 ppg. The Austin native has made a team-high 30 three-pointers with a team best 41.1% mark.
About Louisiana
The Ragin' Cajuns have lost two straight after Saturday's loss to Southern Miss at home. They are 2-6 when playing away from Lafayette with a 2-2 record versus Sun Belt foes.
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil leads the team in scoring (13.0), made free throws (86), rebounding (5.3) and steals (32). Just shy of a double-digit scoring average is Kentrell Garnett at 9.9 ppg. He has made a team-high 42 three-pointers and sports a 36.2% shooting mark from long distance.
Series History
Louisiana leads the all-time series 21-8 after Texas State won the first meeting this season 89-74 last Thursday in Lafayette. It snapped a six-game losing streak in the series and was the Bobcats' first win in the Cajundome since 2022.
When hosting the Cajuns, TXST is 4-8 all-time. The last win in San Marcos was on Jan. 15, 2022 by a score of 72-68. Caleb Asberry led all players with 22 points while adding five rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
A win on Thursday would mark just the third time that Texas State has swept the regular season series from Louisiana. The first time was in 2020 and the most recent was in 2022.
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