SAN MARCOS, Texas (Interstat) — A dominant first-half offensive display by Texas State proved too much for Texas Southern to overcome as the Bobcats secured a 77-67 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Strahan Coliseum.

Playing before a crowd of 1,236, the Bobcats erupted for 47 points before halftime, building a commanding 17-point lead that the Tigers could never fully erase. Texas State improved its season record to 3-2, while Texas Southern remained winless at 0-4.

The game was ultimately decided by efficiency. Texas State scored its 77 points on just 70 possessions, an offensive rating of 109.7, while Texas Southern managed 67 points from 75 possessions, an offensive rating of 89.6. The Bobcats’ superior shooting was the primary factor, as they connected on 24 of 45 field goal attempts for a 53.3 percent clip. The Tigers struggled from the floor, making only 23 of 54 shots for 42.6 percent.

DJ Hall led a balanced Texas State attack, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds in 27 minutes. Mark Drone matched Hall’s scoring output with 19 points of his own, adding three assists. Makai Willis provided a significant spark off the bench with 12 points, and Kyndall Davis contributed nine points and seven rebounds.

For Texas Southern, Troy Hupstead was a force inside, finishing just shy of a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds. Zaire Hayes provided a scoring punch with 17 points, and Alex Anderson added 10 points and four rebounds.

The contest opened with a sloppy, back-and-forth sequence. Texas State’s Makai Willis scored the game’s first points on a layup just 50 seconds in, but turnovers plagued both teams in the opening minutes. The Bobcats soon found their rhythm, using a 13-2 run to seize control. A three-pointer from Kyndall Davis and another from Mark Drone stretched the lead, and Texas State continued to pour it on.

Drone was particularly effective in the first half, weaving through the Texas Southern defense for layups and setting up his teammates. His assist on a Davis three-pointer with just over 14 minutes left pushed the lead to 18-11, and the Bobcats continued to build from there. A late layup by Willis just before the halftime buzzer gave Texas State its largest lead of the half at 47-30.

The second half saw a determined effort from the Tigers. They tightened their defense, holding the Bobcats to 30 points after the break, and slowly chipped away at the deficit. A three-pointer from Zaire Hayes with 11:15 remaining cut the Texas State lead to 59-52, energizing the visiting bench.

Every time Texas Southern threatened to close the gap, however, the Bobcats had an answer. DJ Hall was instrumental in stemming the tide, converting key baskets in the paint to maintain a comfortable margin. Texas Southern managed to get within seven points on several occasions but could never draw closer, as missed free throws and untimely turnovers hampered the comeback bid. The Tigers finished the game 18 of 29 from the foul line.

Texas State capitalized on Texas Southern’s mistakes, scoring 14 points off 16 Tiger turnovers. The Bobcats also won the battle at the charity stripe, making 24 of 32 free throw attempts. Texas Southern held advantages in fastbreak points, 13-6, and steals, 11-10, but it was not enough to overcome the early hole.

The Bobcats now look ahead to a home game against Abilene Christian on Tuesday. Texas Southern, still in search of its first win, will travel to face Vanderbilt on Thursday.