BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The 2025-26 season began on Monday for Texas State (0-1) with an 83-48 loss to Bowling Green (1-0) in the Stroh Center as part of the MAC/SBC Challenge.

"Credit Bowling Green. They played with a level of physicality and effort that we struggled to consistently match," said head coach Terrence Johnson. "We'll get back to work and be better. We missed an opportunity to bring culture to the floor. We were not ourselves tonight."

Franck Emmou was the lone Bobcat to finish in double figures on the night with 12 points off the bench. He was 5-for-9 from the floor and 2-of-3 on three-pointers while grabbing five rebounds and recording one steal in his Texas State debut.

Adding seven points and a team-high three assists was Dimp Pernell. Chipping in with six points was Jaelyn Lee.

It was a slow start for both teams as they combined for just 10 points in the first seven minutes of action. Back-to-back treys by the Falcons gave them a 17-12 lead but the Bobcats responded with baskets from Makai Willis and Emmou to tie the game.

Emmou hit a three-pointer off a pass from Pernell to tie the game again, this time at 27-27 with 4:43 left in the half. Bowling Green would go on to end the opening stanza on a 13-2 run.

The advantage would only grow for the hosts in the second half thanks to TXST shooting just 27.6% (8-of-29) from the field.

Next up for the Bobcats is their home opener on Wednesday when they take on Texas A&M-San Antonio at 7 p.m. in Strahan Arena.

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