HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — Tylik Weeks scored 25 points as Southern Mississippi pulled away in overtime to defeat Texas State 80-70 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Reed Green Coliseum. The Golden Eagles (10-7) outscored the Bobcats 15-5 in the extra period after regulation ended tied at 65. Southern Mississippi dominated inside, scoring 48 points in the paint. Kaden Gumbs led Texas State (9-8) with 15 points. Mark Drone added 18 for the Bobcats, who led 28-29 at halftime. Weeks’ performance, which included four assists, keyed the Southern Mississippi victory in front of 2,357 fans.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — Tylik Weeks scored a game-high 25 points and Southern Mississippi dominated the overtime period to defeat Texas State 80-70 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Reed Green Coliseum. In a contest defined by runs and resilience, the Golden Eagles outscored the Bobcats 15-5 in the extra session to secure the victory in front of 2,357 fans. The win improved Southern Mississippi to 10-7 overall, while Texas State fell to 9-8. The most critical sequence of the game occurred in the final minute of regulation and the opening moments of overtime, a stretch that shifted the momentum irrevocably to the home team. With the score tied at 65 and under 30 seconds to play in the second half, Southern Mississippi’s Tylik Weeks missed a potential go-ahead jumper. Texas State’s Kaden Gumbs secured the defensive rebound and raced the length of the floor, but his driving layup attempt at the buzzer rolled off the rim, forcing overtime. The Golden Eagles seized control immediately in the extra period. Southern Mississippi won the opening tip and, after a missed shot, Weeks tipped in an offensive rebound for a 67-65 lead just 24 seconds into overtime. The Bobcats responded with two Robert Fields free throws to tie it again, but they would not score another field goal in overtime. Southern Mississippi embarked on a decisive 13-1 run over the next four minutes, fueled by defensive stops and efficient offense. Dylan Brumfield and Weeks combined to make four consecutive free throws, Djahi Binet scored inside, and a Brumfield turnaround jumper extended the lead to 76-67 with 2:30 remaining. Texas State, meanwhile, missed five straight shots and committed two turnovers during the drought, unable to match Southern Mississippi’s intensity. The game was a back-and-forth affair for the first 40 minutes. Southern Mississippi took a narrow 29-28 lead into halftime, but Texas State surged ahead in the second half, building a six-point advantage on multiple occasions. The Bobcats’ lead was 56-50 after a Mark Drone 3-pointer with 7:56 left in regulation. The Golden Eagles answered with a 12-2 run, capped by a Curt Lewis 3-pointer, to take a 62-58 lead with just under six minutes to play. Texas State clawed back, tying the game at 65 on a Drone layup with 1:16 remaining, setting the stage for the frantic finish and missed chances that led to overtime. Weeks, a 6-foot-7 forward from New York, was the catalyst for Southern Mississippi, adding four assists and playing 41 minutes. Chiante Tramble provided a crucial spark off the bench with 14 points, including two key 3-pointers in the second half. Djahi Binet anchored the interior with 12 points, two blocks and a game-high 10 rebounds, while Dylan Brumfield contributed 13 points. Texas State was led by Kaden Gumbs with 15 points and Drone, who logged 43 minutes and finished with 18 points. DJ Hall added 12 points and Franck Emmou scored 10 off the bench. The Bobcats’ offense struggled overall, shooting just 39.7% from the field and 24% from 3-point range. Their five points in overtime proved fatal. Southern Mississippi excelled in the paint, outscoring Texas State 48-30, and capitalized on free throws, making 18 of 24 compared to the Bobcats’ 14 of 22. Both teams were active defensively, combining for 19 steals and 19 points off turnovers apiece. The victory gave Southern Mississippi a winning record in conference play and continued its positive momentum at home. Texas State, which had won two of its last three, will look to regroup quickly as it faces a tight turnaround, traveling to face Arkansas State on Saturday. Southern Mississippi hosts Louisiana-Monroe next. The two teams are scheduled for a rematch in San Marcos, Texas, on Jan. 17.

Sun Belt Foes Texas State, Southern Mississippi Meet With Identical Records HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — Two teams looking to establish momentum in Sun Belt Conference play will meet Thursday when the Texas State Bobcats visit the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at Reed Green Coliseum. Both teams enter the Jan. 8 matchup with identical 9-7 overall records. Texas State (1-1 Sun Belt) is coming off an 84-79 road win at Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. Southern Mississippi (2-1) earned a 74-67 victory at Louisiana-Lafayette the same day. The game features a compelling matchup between two of the league’s top performers. Texas State is led by guard Mark Drone, who is averaging 18.4 points per game over his last five contests. He scored 24 points with six rebounds in the win over ULM. Southern Mississippi counters with forward Djahi Binet, who is coming off a dominant 24-point, eight-rebound performance against Louisiana-Lafayette. The Bobcats have relied on a balanced attack. In the win over ULM, DJ Hall added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Kaden Gumbs posted 12 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Texas State has shown offensive potency but has allowed 89 points or more in three of its seven losses. Southern Mississippi has found its footing after a tough non-conference stretch that included losses to LSU and Mississippi. The Golden Eagles have won two straight league games, with Binet’s interior play and Dylan Brumfield’s consistency—he played all 40 minutes and had 15 points and four assists last outing—key factors. This begins a home-and-home series between the teams, who will meet again in San Marcos, Texas, on Jan. 17. For Texas State, this contest opens a critical two-game road swing before returning home. Southern Mississippi looks to protect its home court before embarking on a three-game road trip. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.