Preview: Texas State Bobcats at South Alabama Jaguars MOBILE, Ala. (Interstat) — A pivotal Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball clash is set for Thursday night as the surging Texas State Bobcats visit the South Alabama Jaguars at the Mitchell Center. The matchup features two of the league’s hottest teams and most dynamic guards. Texas State (17-11) rides a five-game winning streak into Mobile, its longest of the season. South Alabama (19-8), despite an 80-84 road loss at Marshall on Monday, has won seven of its last nine. The game will be headlined by a high-scoring backcourt duel. Texas State is powered by DJ Hall, who is averaging 21.4 points over his last five games. He is coming off a dominant 27-point, 9-rebound, 5-assist performance in a 95-84 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. South Alabama counters with Chaze Harris, who has been on a torrid pace. The guard is averaging 26.0 points over his last three contests, including a 30-point effort in a 92-88 overtime win at Arkansas State on Feb. 14 and 28 points in the loss at Marshall. The Jaguars won 19 of their first 25 games but have shown recent vulnerability, dropping two of their last four. Defense will be a key concern after allowing 84 points in the loss to Marshall. Texas State’s streak has been built on efficient offense, scoring 77 points or more in four of the five wins. Beyond Hall, Mark Drone (16 points vs. ULM) provides crucial secondary scoring. This is a rematch of a Dec. 20 thriller in San Marcos, where Texas State edged South Alabama 67-65. The Jaguars will seek to defend their home court and avenge that narrow defeat. With both teams jockeying for position in the Sun Belt standings ahead of next month’s conference tournament, Thursday’s contest carries significant weight. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST.