SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State men's basketball team fell, 74-69, at home in Sun Belt Conference action to Troy on Tuesday evening. With the loss, the Bobcats fall to 15-15 overall and 8-9 in conference play, while the Trojans improve to 19-10 and 12-5.

Tylan Pope led TXST with a game-high 25 points off 8-of-12 shooting. He also added four rebounds in 30-plus minutes of action.

Texas State shot 41% from the field (20-for-29), while holding Troy to 38% (22-for-58). The Bobcats were out rebounded 41-33 in the contest and lost the battle for points in the paint, 32-24.

The Trojans opened the game on a 5-0 run, but it was quickly erased as TXST answered with an 8-0 run of his own sparked by six opening points from Pope to give the Bobcats the early lead.

A tip in from Austin Green at the 12:17 mark saw Texas State's second lead of the game, a lead which TXST extended to six, its largest of the half, after a jumper from Pope made it 22-16. Troy was able to cut that deficit to two, but a layup from Christian Turner and a pair of Tyrel Morgan free throws took the lead back to six with 6:11 remaining in the half.  

The Bobcats closed the half with a three from Pope, resulting in a 37-36 lead heading into the locker room. Pope went 7-of-9 shooting for 17 points in the frame.

Despite six ties and three lead changes over the first 20 minutes, Texas State led for 11:35. The Bobcats capitalized on eight Troy turnovers across the first 20 minutes, leading to 12 points for the home team.

The second half opened with three early lead changes before the first media timeout, with Troy going into the break ahead, 45-42. The Trojans extended their lead to five with 14:15 on the clock and led until a Coleton Benson three-pointer leveled the score at 52-52.

Troy held the lead for the next 2:32 when Pope converted on a pair of free throws to knot the score at 56, but from there the visitors went on a six-point run with 6:08 remaining in the half.

The Trojans went on to lead by as much as seven, and the Bobcats were unable to fully close the gap late cutting the lead to one on two occasions.

The Bobcats stay home to host James Madison Friday for the regular season finale and Senior Day. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. from Strahan Arena.

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