In a thrilling encounter at the Myrtle Beach Invitational, Texas State emerged victorious over Ohio, clinching a 74-65 win in the fifth-place game on Sunday night. Tylan Pope showcased his skills by leading the Bobcats with an impressive 24-point performance, also contributing significantly with 10 rebounds.

Christian Turner added to the scoring effort by netting 13 points on an efficient 5 of 9 shooting and converting 3 of 4 from the charity stripe, along with grabbing six rebounds. Kaden Gumbs also played a key role, scoring 12 points by hitting 5 of 13 shots from the field.

For the Ohio team, AJ Clayton was the standout performer, finishing the game with 18 points. Supporting him were Aidan Hadaway, who tallied 13 points along with two steals and two blocks, and Jackson Paveletzke, who contributed 12 points and two steals. The team’s efforts, however, were not enough to overcome Texas State’s strong performance.

The Bobcats took control early in the match, establishing a lead just 16 seconds into the first half and maintaining it throughout. Pope was instrumental in this lead, scoring 13 points before halftime, allowing Texas State to head into the break with a 35-31 advantage. In the second half, Texas State continued to widen the gap, outscoring Ohio by five points, with Drue Drinnon emerging as a key player by scoring a team-high 11 points after the halftime break.

With this win, Texas State improves its record to 4-3, while Ohio’s struggles continue, leaving them with a 2-5 record. The tightly contested game showcased the determination and skills of both teams as they vied for dominance on the court.