SAN MARCOS, Texas – Senior forward Tylan Pope scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the second in helping Texas State (13-13, 6-7 Sun Belt) defeat ULM (6-20, 2-11 Sun Belt) 72-60 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Thursday. The victory snapped a five-game skid streak for the Bobcats.
 
"Obviously, we've gone through our fair share of challenges this season. It felt good to get this win," said head coach Terrence Johnson. "I'm proud of these guys. I thought they were connected and focused on team goals."
 
Pope finished 9-of-15 from the field, knocked down his lone three-point attempt and went 3-for-4 at the free throw line. He also grabbed four rebounds and had one assist and steal. Dylan Dawson was the only other TXST starter to reach double-figures with 11 points while grabbing six rebounds, dishing out four assists and recording three steals.
 
Coming up just shy of a double-double was Christian Turner with nine points and nine rebounds. He added three assists, two steals and blocked two shots. Drue Drinnon started and dished out six dimes.
 
Both Mark Drone and Tyrel Morgan returned to action after missing the last seven games due to injuries. Morgan netted 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting and Drone contributed eight points behind two made three-pointers.
 
"Having Mark and Tyrel back gives us two talented and tough guys that are gamers. Today was a total team effort but having these guys back made a difference indeed," said Johnson.
 
After the Bobcats took a one-point lead on two free throws by Dawson early in the game, the Warhawks went on a 10-2 run to take their largest lead of the game at 16-9. Texas State responded with a 17-2 run of its own that saw Drone make back-to-back treys.
 
The Bobcats would go cold from the field for nearly four minutes late in the first half. In that time, ULM scored seven points to get within a point. The hosts missed their last four shots of the period and that allowed TXST to extend its advantage to 34-27 at the half.
 
Pope, who had to sit for an extend period in the first half due to foul trouble, went off over the first eight and a half minutes of the second half. The Franklinton, Louisiana native would score 18 of the Bobcat's first 24 points in the period and help extend the lead to 17.
 
ULM cut its deficit to 58-49 as TXST was held scoreless for 4:36. Morgan had a putback bucket to snap the scoreless streak. The basket also started a streak of the Bobcats scoring 12 of the next 14 points. The returning forward converted a fastbreak layup to cap the scoring run and give the team their largest lead of the game at 70-51.
 
Next up for TXST is the final Sun Belt road game of the season when the team faces South Alabama in Mobile on Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
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