SAN MARCOS, Texas (Interstat) — Texas State overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat South Alabama 67-65 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Strahan Coliseum. The Jaguars led 39-25 at the break, but the Bobcats surged with 42 second-half points to secure the comeback victory before a crowd of 1,224. DJ Hall led Texas State with 15 points and six rebounds, while Mark Drone added 11 points. The Bobcats improved to 8-6 overall, capitalizing on 13 points off turnovers and 13 fastbreak points. South Alabama, which dominated paint scoring 38-26, fell to 9-4 despite holding a significant advantage for much of the game. The result defied national statistical projections that heavily favored the Jaguars.

SAN MARCOS, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering reversal of momentum, Texas State erased a 14-point halftime deficit with a dominant second-half performance to edge South Alabama 67-65 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday at Strahan Coliseum. The visiting Jaguars, who entered as slight favorites according to advanced metrics, appeared in firm control after the first 20 minutes. They led 39-25 at the break, fueled by efficient interior scoring and a disruptive defense that held the Bobcats to just 21.4% shooting from the field in the first half. South Alabama’s Chaze Harris and Adam Olsen combined for 27 first-half points, while Stephen Williams anchored the paint with four of his five blocks before halftime. The second half, however, was a different story entirely. Texas State emerged from the locker room with renewed aggression, particularly on the offensive glass. The Bobcats, who finished with a commanding 17-4 advantage in offensive rebounds, generated a flurry of second-chance opportunities that fueled their comeback. They opened the second period on a 14-4 run to cut the deficit to four points within the first five minutes and continued to chip away. South Alabama’s offense, so fluid in the first half, stagnated under increased defensive pressure. The Jaguars managed only 26 points after halftime, shooting 32% from the field. Critical to the collapse was their performance at the free-throw line, where they missed eight attempts, finishing 14 of 22. Texas State, by stark contrast, was nearly perfect from the stripe, converting 20 of 22 free throws. The Bobcats took their first lead of the game, 49-47, on a Franck Emmou 3-pointer with 8:06 remaining, capping a 24-8 run since halftime. The teams then traded blows in a tense final stretch. With Texas State leading 63-61 in the final minute, South Alabama’s Harris was fouled on a drive and went to the line with 39 seconds left. He missed the first free throw but made the second to pull the Jaguars within one. On the ensuing possession, Texas State’s Kaden Gumbs was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to push the lead back to 65-62 with 27 seconds on the clock. South Alabama’s Adam Olsen then connected on a deep 3-pointer with just 6 seconds remaining, tying the game at 65 and sending a jolt through the crowd of 1,224. The drama was immediate. Texas State inbounded quickly to Gumbs, who raced the length of the floor and scored a driving layup with 2 seconds left to reclaim the lead. South Alabama’s desperation heave from beyond half-court was off target, sealing the remarkable comeback victory for the home team. Harris led all scorers with 22 points for South Alabama, while Olsen added 20. Williams finished with eight points, six rebounds and five blocks. For Texas State, DJ Hall led a balanced attack with 15 points, Mark Drone scored 11, and Jalen Bolden added 10. Kyndall Davis was pivotal on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds, seven of them offensive. The loss dropped South Alabama to 9-4 overall, while Texas State improved to 8-6. The most important part of the game was unequivocally Texas State’s second-half transformation, specifically their overwhelming effort on the offensive glass and their clutch free-throw shooting. This combination allowed them to systematically dismantle South Alabama’s substantial lead, control the tempo after halftime, and ultimately execute under pressure in the final seconds to secure a critical conference victory.

SAN MARCOS, Texas (Interstat) — A surging South Alabama squad looks to continue its strong start when it visits a Texas State team seeking consistency in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Strahan Coliseum. The Jaguars (9-3) enter having won three of their last four, including a dramatic 96-92 double-overtime victory at Louisiana-Monroe on Wednesday. The Bobcats (7-6) aim to rebound from a 70-89 home loss to Arkansas State that same night. South Alabama’s attack is powered by guard Chaze Harris, who is coming off a career performance. He poured in 38 points and dished eight assists while playing 46 minutes in the win over ULM. Over his last five games, Harris is averaging 22.8 points and 6.0 assists, showcasing his dual-threat capability. He is supported by Jayden Cooper and Hantz Louis Jeune, who combined for 36 points in the midweek victory. Texas State will counter with its own standout guard in Kaden Gumbs, who leads the team in assists. Gumbs posted 12 points and six assists against Arkansas State but the Bobcats’ defense struggled, allowing 89 points. Texas State has lost four of its last six games, with the wins coming against non-Division I Texas Lutheran and a narrow home victory over Southern. The Jaguars have shown resilience on the road this season, posting a 4-2 record away from home. Texas State is 5-2 at home in San Marcos but will face one of its toughest tests of the season in a South Alabama team averaging over 77 points per game. Historically, the series has been tightly contested. Saturday’s game marks the conference opener for both teams, setting the tone for their Sun Belt campaigns. South Alabama visits Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 31 following this contest. Texas State concludes its non-conference schedule and will travel to face Troy on New Year’s Eve.