MOBILE, Ala. – Texas State closed out its Sun Belt Conference road slate on Saturday by battling South Alabama in the Mitchell Center. The Bobcats had a chance to win the game in regulation but ultimately fell 70-65 in overtime.
 
"It was a battle. A tough, highly competitive game as expected. I'm proud of the fight we showed today, unfortunately it wasn't enough to beat a good team on their home court. We'll watch the film and make the necessary adjustments for next week," said head coach Terrence Johnson.
 
Tylan Pope recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 20 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, eight of which came on the offensive glass. He also blocked three shots and recorded two steals.
 
Joshua O'Garro added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Also reaching double-figures was Dylan Dawson with 10 points behind three made three-pointers. Tyrel Morgan fell just shy of a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. The forward also blocked two shots and had two assists.
 
For the first 15:43 of the game, TXST lead for all but 37 seconds. The largest lead was 17-11 after a Dawson three-pointer and Nate Deer grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in for a layup.
 
The Jaguars would close the half by scoring nine of the last 13 points to take a three-point advantage into the break.
 
During the middle of the second half, the Bobcats went on an 11-3 run to again go up by six at 49-43 with 8:53 left on the clock. South Alabama answered back and retook the lead with 4:40 to go in regulation and held the lead until there were 40 ticks to play. That is when Dawson hit a three-pointer from the left wing to tie the game.
 
Texas State had a chance to win the game in regulation after Myles Corey missed a jumper with 14 seconds to go and Morgan grabbed the rebound. Mark Drone's three-point attempt rattled in and out as the buzzer sounded to send the contest to overtime.
 
South Alabama scored the first four points of the extra period until O'Garro hit a trey from the right corner to cut the deficit to 64-63 at the 1:48 mark. That would be the only points for the Bobcats until Drone made a layup with 12 seconds to play but by then the hosts had put the game away.
 
Next up for TXST the first contest of a four-game homestand on Wednesday when it hosts ULM at 7:30 p.m.
 
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