TXST MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Texas State Bobcats notched a critical conference win, defeating the rival Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 59-54.
The win improves the Bobcats’ record to 10-9 overall and 3-4 in conference play while the Cajuns fall to 4-15 and 2-5 in conference play.
“It felt good to get that one,” Head Coach Terrence Johnson said. “I’m really happy for our guys. We had a road trip last week that was somewhat taxing on us emotionally because we felt like we were right there chipping away at it. We thought that we were playing good ball, in spurts and then we kind of let go of the rope in both of those games. But we found a way to get better down the stretch of this one and we got the victory.”
The Bobcats struggled on the road in their last two games, falling to Southern Miss in overtime and dropping a close game to Arkansas State by one-possession.
Despite the level of performance improving for the Bobcats, for Johnson it doesn’t matter unless the performances come away with a win.
“It’s good to have some level of optimism or hope, however you want to look at it, but the reality of it is this is a result based business,” Johnson said. “Close isn’t nothing but a conversation. That’s it. You can talk about how close you are, but you can’t do anything to get closer after it’s over so it’s just a conversation. So for them to be able to turn the conversation into reality is important, especially in this generation of guys.” Texas State failed to give up the lead in the first half before pushing it to 33-22 in the second half.
But a 15-3 run by the Cajuns tied the game at 36-36 before a free throw gave the border rivals a 37-36 lead.
The Bobcats answered with a 13-2 run as Texas State took back the lead at 49-39 capped off by a layup from freshman D.J. Hall.
The Cajuns gave the Bobcats one last comeback attempt as Texas State’s lead was shrunk down to being a one-possession game at 54-51 after a three-pointer.
However, any hopes of a Cajun comeback were slammed shut as the Bobcats responded with a short 5-0 run in the final minute, punctuated by a slam dunk from junior Kaden Gumbs.
“It felt great, because I knew after that, they were going to shut down,” Gumbs said. “That’s why I did it and I’m happy I did it.”
Gumbs led the team in scoring with 18 points, shooting 8 of 11 from the field as the Bobcats were missing senior guard Mark Drone.
Despite not having Drone to help with the offense, Gumbs didn’t feel the constraint of carrying the offense.
“I don’t really take it as pressure,” Gumbs said, “I just try to keep composed. Because if I’m composed, I can get everybody else composed. So I wouldn’t even say it’s pressure.”
Freshman D.J. Hall was second in scoring with 16 points while leading the team in rebounds with 14 to complete the double-double.
The Bobcats are back home Saturday in a rematch with the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Texas State lost their first meeting between the two teams in a 80-70 defeat in overtime. Southern Miss enters the game with a 11-8 overall record and a 5-2 conference record.
Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Strahan Arena.
