TXST MEN’S BASKETBALL
One of the most heated rivalries for the program, Head Coach Terrence Johnson knew the annual showdown would bring a different energy to both the team and Strahan Arena.
As Johnson put it, there is a difference between a visitor and an unwanted guest.
“We don’t take [I-35 Rivalry] lightly,” Johnson said. “We understand that sometimes you have visitors and sometimes you have unwanted guests. [The Roadrunners] were unwanted guests and it was our absolute duty to treat them as such. I got the utmost respect for that coaching staff, the university and that athletic department. But this is a rivalry for a reason. They feel the same way about us and I am 100% good with that.”
The 64th renewal of the I-35 Rivalry ended with Bobcats defeating the rival UTSA Roadrunners 80-69.
Following a tough loss to Tulane last Saturday, Johnson was proud of his team for playing a complete game and stifling a potential UTSA comeback in a game where Texas State failed to give up the lead.
“I got to show love to these guys,” Johnson said. “These young guys stepped up and they did the things that we asked them to do. A lot of these guys fought through some level of adversity throughout the course of that game. They did not let go of the rope and we’ve gotten a lot better in a week in a couple of days. So I’m super excited for my team to get this first division one win of the year.”
The game highlighted the offensive showcase put on by the Bobcats as five players scored in double figures. The spotlight that shined the brightest was junior guard Dimp Pernell who led the team with 19 points.
Coming off the bench, Pernell knew he needed to bring the right energy to the team while playing off of junior point guard Kaden Gumbs.
“I feel I just had to be the sparkplug off the bench,” Pernell said. “If the first five are not getting it going then the team depends on me to come out and get them some energy. [Kaden Gumbs], he is a good facilitator and since he’s been for the last three years, he knows how the offense works. So it’s easy to play with him because he knows how to put [the ball] in the right spot.”
In the paint, the Bobcats two freshmen standout, D.J. Hall and Roberts Field, dominated down low despite the height disadvantage against the Roadrunners.
Hall completed his first double with 11 points and 10 rebounds while Fields finished with nine points and 11 rebounds.
“We don’t sign freshmen, we don’t plan on playing,” Johnson said. ”You can see that those guys have a connection. They look for each other, they play hard for one another, and they’re good players. So they’re going to have to grow up really, really fast for us if we’re going to be any good.”
The Bobcats will return to play this Saturday against the Texas Southern Tigers. The Tigers enter their game with Texas State with a 0-3 record, coming off a 93-90 loss to Samford.
Tip-off for Texas State and Texas Southern is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.
