STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — Texas State rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat Georgia Southern 77-71 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Hanner Fieldhouse. The Bobcats, who trailed 31-30 at halftime, used a 47-point second half to secure the road win. DJ Hall led Texas State with 16 points. Makai Willis added 15 points off the bench, all in the first half, to keep the Bobcats close. Georgia Southern’s Khayri Dunn scored a game-high 20 points, while Tavarus Webb added 16 points and three blocks. The Eagles shot just 7 of 23 from 3-point range. Texas State improved to 14-11, while Georgia Southern fell to 14-11. Attendance was 1,505.

STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Sun Belt Conference clash between teams jockeying for position in the standings, the Texas State Bobcats used a dominant second-half performance to overcome a halftime deficit and defeat the Georgia Southern Eagles 77-71 on Wednesday night at Hanner Fieldhouse. The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,505, saw both teams enter and exit with identical 14-11 overall records, underscoring the importance of the result. The Bobcats, who were projected underdogs by national metrics, improved to 3-1 in their last four games, while the Eagles dropped their second straight. The contest was defined by a decisive shift in momentum after intermission. Georgia Southern, led by a sharp-shooting first half, took a narrow 31-30 lead into the break. However, Texas State emerged from the locker room with renewed aggression, particularly in attacking the basket and controlling the glass. The Bobcats outscored the Eagles 47-40 in the second half, turning a one-point deficit into a six-point victory. The most critical phase of the game occurred in the final eight minutes, as Texas State executed under pressure to stifle a late Georgia Southern rally. After the Eagles’ Alden Applewhite hit a 3-pointer to cut the Bobcats’ lead to 60-58 with just over four minutes remaining, Texas State responded with a crucial 7-0 run. The sequence was fueled by defensive stops and efficient offense: DJ Hall hit a stepback jumper, Tay Knox converted two free throws, and after a defensive stand, Mark Drone sank a pair from the foul line to extend the lead to 67-58 with 3:04 left. Georgia Southern refused to fade, with Applewhite scoring five quick points to make it a 67-63 game at the 2:22 mark. But the Bobcats’ composure at the free-throw line sealed the outcome. Over the final 1:18, Texas State went 8 for 8 from the charity stripe, with Kaden Gumbs sinking six consecutive attempts in the closing seconds to continually answer Eagle baskets and keep the game at a two-possession margin. Georgia Southern could get no closer than four points in the final minute. Texas State’s victory was built on interior dominance and efficiency. The Bobcats outscored Georgia Southern 40-30 in the paint and held a commanding 10-4 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to 12 second-chance points. Despite struggling from beyond the arc, making only 3 of 14 attempts, Texas State compensated by shooting 45 percent from the floor overall and a stellar 20 of 22 from the free-throw line. Their offensive rating of 107.8 points per 100 possessions edged out Georgia Southern’s 102.2. Georgia Southern, which shot 7 of 23 from 3-point range, was hampered by 10 turnovers and the Bobcats’ eight steals. The Eagles did block seven shots, led by Tavarus Webb’s three, but could not consistently string together stops in the second half. DJ Hall led all Texas State scorers with 16 points, adding three assists. His backcourt mate, Kaden Gumbs, was instrumental down the stretch, finishing with 13 points. Reserve big man Makai Willis provided a massive spark off the bench, scoring all 15 of his points in the first half to keep the Bobcats within striking distance. Kyndall Davis added 11 points and three assists. For Georgia Southern, Khayri Dunn led the way with 20 points and three assists. Alden Applewhite was a force, especially late, scoring 18 of his game-high 18 points in the second half. Tavarus Webb contributed 16 points, three blocks, and three steals in a strong all-around effort, while Nakavieon White added 10 points and two blocks off the bench. The win gives Texas State momentum heading into a non-conference matchup against Western Michigan on Saturday. Georgia Southern looks to rebound when it hosts Appalachian State next Wednesday.

Preview: Texas State Bobcats at Georgia Southern Eagles STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — A pivotal Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball matchup is set for Wednesday night at Hanner Fieldhouse as the Georgia Southern Eagles host the Texas State Bobcats. Both teams enter with momentum from winning records, looking to solidify their standing in the league. Georgia Southern (14-10) holds a slight edge in the overall win column, while Texas State (13-11) arrives having won two straight. The Bobcats are coming off an impressive 81-64 home victory over Old Dominion on Saturday. Guard DJ Hall led the charge with 24 points and six rebounds in just 23 minutes of play. Hall has been a consistent offensive force for Texas State, averaging 17.1 points over his last eight games, including a 23-point performance in a narrow loss at Coastal Carolina on Jan. 22. Georgia Southern seeks to rebound from a 69-60 road loss at Louisiana-Lafayette this past Saturday. In that contest, guard Tavarus Webb scored 18 points. Webb has been the Eagles’ primary scorer, averaging 15.6 points per game over his last seven outings. His versatility was on display in a Jan. 30 win at Louisiana-Monroe, where he posted 15 points and two assists. The recent series and individual matchups suggest a closely contested game. Texas State has shown resilience, with five of its last eight games decided by five points or fewer. The Bobcats’ recent success has been fueled by Hall’s scoring and the all-around play of guard Mark Drone, who had 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists against Old Dominion. Georgia Southern, however, has been strong at home in conference play, with notable overtime victories over Old Dominion and Coastal Carolina in Hanner Fieldhouse earlier this season. The Eagles will rely on Webb’s scoring and the interior presence of forward Alden Applewhite, who recorded 14 points and seven rebounds in the loss to Louisiana-Lafayette. This game marks the only scheduled meeting between the teams this regular season. Following this contest, Texas State will host Western Michigan on Saturday, while Georgia Southern prepares for a home game against Appalachian State on Feb. 11. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday.