Texas St defeats UL Monroe 79-84

Texas St Edges UL Monroe in Thrilling Conference Showdown

The Fant-Ewing Coliseum was electric on Sunday evening as the University of Louisiana at Monroe (UL Monroe) hosted conference rival Texas State University (Texas St). In a back-and-forth affair, Texas St emerged victorious, 84-79.

The game's narrative arc was defined by its ebb and flow. At halftime, Texas St held a slim lead, 46-39, setting the tone for a contest that would be marked by defensive intensity and scoring surges from both teams.

Lavell Brodnex led UL Monroe to its largest lead of the game , scoring 7 points in the first half to give his team a 5-point advantage. However, Texas St responded with a 11-2 run to take the lead for the first time, thanks in part to Mark Drone's 8 points in the second half.

The decisive factor proved to be free throw shooting. UL Monroe, which shot just 69% from the line, saw its lead dwindle as Texas St converted an impressive 67% of its attempts (12/18). Meanwhile, UL Monroe struggled to find success from the free throw line, missing crucial attempts that could have sealed the game for the home team.

The largest margin of the night was just 5 points , a testament to the teams' ability to stay competitive throughout. The win marks Texas St's first conference victory and provides a much-needed boost to its postseason hopes.

In terms of individual performance, Lavell Brodnex led UL Monroe with 23 points, while Mark Drone scored 24 for Texas St. Both players were instrumental in their team's success, with Brodnex's all-around play and Drone's scoring prowess proving decisive factors in the game's outcome.

The result marks an important conference victory for Texas St, which moves to 2-0 in the league, while UL Monroe falls to 1-1. The two teams will look to rebound from this tough loss when they face off again later this season.