SAN MARCOS, Texas – The regular season comes to a close on Friday when Texas State (15-15, 8-9 Sun Belt) hosts Sun Belt Conference leading James Madison (20-10, 13-14 Sun Belt) in Strahan Arena for a 7 p.m. tip. Prior to the game, the Bobcats will recognize their six seniors for their contributions to the program.
Fans can catch the action on ESPN+ and on the Varsity Sports Network with Clint Shields on the call. Live stats will also be available to follow.
About Texas State
Entering Friday, TXST is tied for seventh in the league's standings with Georgia State and Louisiana. The Bobcats can finish as high as the seventh seed or as low as the 11th seed for the conference tournament. A win against the Dukes or a loss be either Georgia Southern or Old Dominion would assure the Bobcats of not playing on the first day.
Tylan Pope is on the edge of two historic marks heading into the contest. He is eight points shy of reaching 1,000 in his collegiate career and needs 13 more to record the 22nd 500-point season in program history. The senior forward leads the team at 16.2 points per game and is shooting 53.8% from the field, the second highest in the Sun Belt. Pope is also contributing 6.5 rebounds per game, 43 blocks, 20 steals and has recorded seven double-doubles.
Also with double-digit scoring averages are Mark Drone (11.3), Kaden Gumbs (11.4) and Tyrel Morgan (13.9). Gumbs has dished out 111 assists and leads the team with 40 steals. He is the first Bobcat to have at least 40 steals in a season since Nijal Pearson finished with 45 in the 2018-19 campaign. Morgan enters grabbing 6.7 rpg, the second best on the team behind Joshua O'Garro's 7.0 per contest.
Both Coleten Benson and Dylan Dawson have made over 30 three-pointers with 45 and 33, respectively. Drue Drinnon has knocked down a team best 45.3% of his long-distance shots, going 29-for-64.
About James Madison
The Dukes have clinched at least a share of the regular season title and currently have a game lead over Arkansas State, South Alabama and Troy. JMU has won five straight games and 10 consecutive conference contests. The last loss in Sun Belt play was at home to App State on Jan. 18. When playing on the road, the Dukes are 7-8 with a 5-7 mark in true road games while sporting a 5-3 record in Sun Belt action.
Mark Freeman leads the team in scoring (15.0), made free throws (89) and assists (94). His 56 made three-pointers are the third most on the team behind Bryce Lindsay's 83 and Xavier Brown's 59. Lindsay is contributing 13.4 ppg and Brown is adding 11.0 ppg. Also with a double-digit scoring average is Elijah Hutchins-Everett at 11.1 ppg as he leads the team with a 52.9% shooting mark.
Series History
James Madison leads the all-time series 2-1 after winning both meetings last season. The Dukes won the regular season matchup in Harrisonburg and then knocked Texas State out of the Sun Belt Tournament in the semifinals.
The Bobcats won the first-ever meeting between the teams 63-63 on Jan. 5, 2023 in Harrisonburg. Friday will be the first time that the teams have met in San Marcos.
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