SAN MARCOS, Texas – Thursday sees No. 7 seed Texas State (16-15) open its time in Pensacola against either No. 10 seed Old Dominion (12-19) or No. 11 seed Louisiana (12-20) in the third round of the Sun Belt Conference Championship. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip from the Pensacola Bay Center.
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
The Bobcats enter the tournament coming off a 102-93 double overtime win over James Madison on Friday. It was TXST's first double overtime game since Feb. 2, 2019 against UT Arlington. Texas State has won eight of its 10 opening round contests in the Sun Belt Tournament. A victory on Thursday would see the Bobcats face App State in the fourth round.
Tylan Pope was named to the All-Sun Belt second team as he paces the team in scoring (16.5), field goal percentage (54.3), made free throws (142) and blocks (45). He surpassed 500 points on the season and has become the first player in program history to record a 500-point, 200-rebound, 40-block campaign. The senior has posted 11 games of at least 20 points and seven double-doubles.
Also with double-digit scoring average are Coleton Benson (10.3), Mark Drone (12.0), Kaden Gumbs (11.1) and Tyrel Morgan (14.1). Gumbs has dished out 11 assists and leads the team with 40 steals. Morgan comes in grabbing 6.6 rebounds per game, the second most on the team behind Joshua O'Garro's 6.9.
Benson has knocked down a team leading 48 three-pointers and Dylan Dawson has connected on 33 attempts from beyond the arc. Drue Drinnon had made team-high 44.6% of his three-point attempts and with 29 makes.
About Old Dominion
The Monarchs ended the regular season with a 61-59 win at Coastal Carolina. That victory snapped a six-game losing streak. They are 5-10 when playing outside of Norfolk with a 0-3 mark at neutral sites.
Robert Davis, Jr. leads the team at 15.6 ppg behind a 102 made three-pointers. Sean Durugordon is right behind him at 15.3 ppg and has a team best 8.6 rpg and 40 steals. Dishing out 111 assists has been Jaden Johnson while Caelum Swanton-Rodger has blocked 47 shots.
Series History vs. Monarchs
The all-time series is tied 2-2. ODU has won both regular season meetings including a 75-64 contest in Norfolk on Feb. 5. Both of Texas State's wins have come in Pensacola in the Sun Belt Tournament. Last season, the Bobcats won 92-83 in overtime in the first round.
About Louisiana
The Ragin' Cajuns opened the Sun Belt Tournament with a 73-69 overtime win over in-state rival ULM on Tuesday night. The victory ended a two-game skid. When playing away from the Cajundome, Louisiana is 7-8 with a 1-3 mark in neutral site games.
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil paces the squad in scoring (14.2), made field goals (156), made free throws (143), rebounding (5.2) and steals (45). Also with a double-digit scoring mark is Kentrell Garnett at 10.3 ppg behind a team-high 63 made treys. He is second on the squad with 65 assists and 35 steals.
Series History vs. Ragin' Cajuns
Louisiana leads the all-time series 22-8 over Texas State after the teams split the two regular season meetings. The road team won both times with the Bobcats claiming an 89-74 victory and the Cajuns winning 70-61. In the Sun Belt Championship, Louisiana has won all four meetings with the last coming in the 2023 semifinals.
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