TXST MENS BASKETBALL
Texas State won their fifth straight game to end their five-game homestand, beating the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs 9341.
The Bobcats improve to 6-2 for the season after starting the season 1-2 while Texas Lutheran drops to 2-2 for the season.
“It means a lot,” senior guard Jalen Bolden said following the win. “Losing them two early games, I feel like getting five in a row just helps us have confidence going into this Las Vegas [tournament] and then the rest of the season really.”
Playing five consecutive home games for the first time in over a decade, Head Coach Terrence Johnson was proud of his team for not only bouncing back after the slow start to the season but giving victories in front of the Bobcat faithful.
“Wins are hard to come by no matter where you’re playing them at,” Head Coach Terrence Johnson said. ”We’ve had in years past, and Phil can attest to this, that we’ve had five straight road games and sometimes more than that. But when we get five straight home games and we’re in front of this lovely Bobcat community, these fans and this student body, it gives us the confidence and the energy we need to press on. So I thought that they did that tonight, just like they had been doing it for the previous four games.”
It was a breakout game for Bolden, who led the team in scoring with 24 points and rebounds with eight.
A transfer from Louisiana Monroe, Bolden has finally adjusted to being at Texas State which helped the senior have a career night in a Bobcat uniform against Texas Lutheran.
“Just getting accustomed to the program and what culture wants,” Bolden said. “Obviously, I know I can score the ball, but it’s just about getting it readjusted to a new team all over again, and then just playing like myself Freshman D.J. Hall continued to play at a high level, scoring 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds, marking the sixth straight game of scoring in double figures.
Since the 1-2 start, Hall talked about how the team is finding their spots within the group and are taking advantage of their opportunities.
“I feel like the guys just needed to know their roles,” Hall said. “I feel like everybody’s all over the place and nobody knew exactly what they needed to do. Now I feel like everybody knows what they need to do, so we look way better than we did in the first game.”
Bolden agreed, adding how the level of execution for the Bobcats has continued to improve.
“Against Tulane, we were up 20, and then we have been up double digits every game,” Bolden said. ”It’s just about executing when it really matters and closing out the wins.”
The Bobcats leave Strahan for the first time Nov. 8 as Texas State will participate in the Resorts World Classic in Las Vegas.
Looking to win their first game away from San Marcos, Johnson is focused “Defense is going to have to travel,” Johnson said. “That’s one of those things that you can’t have an off night. So we got to make our own noise when we are out of the friendly confines of Strahan Arena. We have to be well defensively and be better at the free throw line for sure. Then we have got to clean up the offense a little bit, the ball needs to pop and move a little bit. “The next couple of days, they’ll have an opportunity to rest their bodies tomorrow and then we’ll watch film and then figure out what we need to do to put together a game plan that we feel comfortable executing.”
The Bobcats open up play at the Resorts World Classic 1 p.m. Friday against Seattle.
