Texas State cruised past Old Dominion 81-64 in the throwback game at Strahan Arena, putting together one of its most complete performances of the season.
The Bobcats (13-11, 6-6 Sun Belt) jumped out early and never looked back, using sharp perimeter shooting and disciplined defense to keep the Monarchs (7-16, 4-7) from gaining traction.
Freshman guard DJ Hall opened the game with a rebound and a three-pointer, generating a fast start that led Texas State to a 10-point lead within the first five minutes. Junior forward Mark Drone orchestrated the offense with composure, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, just missing the mark on a triple-double performance.
“I knew coming into the game the focus was going to be around me,” Drone said. “Especially with Kaden getting into early foul trouble, I was just trying to draw attention and create open buckets for my teammates.”
Despite early foul trouble, the Bobcats remained steady. “This was probably one of our most complete games of the year,” head coach Terrance Johnson said. “We executed on both ends, stayed disciplined, and our preparation showed tonight.”
Old Dominion leaned on junior guard Jordan Battle, who had some first-half success, but Texas State carried a double-digit lead into halftime. The Monarchs tried slowing the pace and attacking the paint in the second half to exploit Texas State’s foul trouble, but the Bobcats’ depth coming off the bench and fast-break ability kept the game in their control.
Freshman forward Willis scored early in the paint, sophomore forward Franck Emmou added 12 points off the bench, and fifth-year guard Kyndall Davis contributed seven second-half points. Hall led all scorers with 24 points and six rebounds. Senior guard K.C. Shaw had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Old Dominion, but the Monarchs struggled with shot selection and turnovers.
Texas State stayed composed despite continued foul trouble. Freshman center Robert Fields energized the crowd with two dunks late in the second half, and junior guard Kaden Gumbs found his rhythm to help close out the game with timely assists and scoring.
The Bobcats will look to carry their momentum and find a road win against Georgia Southern at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Ga. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
