TROY, Ala. — In a thrilling matchup on Thursday night, Tylan Pope emerged as the star player for Texas State, scoring 27 points, including a crucial free throw that secured a 74-73 victory against Troy with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock.

Pope’s performance was bolstered by his strong presence on the boards, where he also recorded 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who improved their record to 9-7 overall and 2-2 in the Sun Belt Conference. Mark Drone contributed significantly as well, making 5 of 9 shots from the field and hitting all 6 of his free throw attempts, resulting in 17 points. Additionally, Kaden Gumbs rounded out the scoring for Texas State with 11 points, going 5 for 12 from the field, including a 1 for 3 performance from beyond the arc.

For the Trojans, who fell to 10-5 on the season and 3-1 in conference play, Tayton Conerway led the charge with 15 points, as well as contributing four assists, five steals, and two blocks. Myles Rigsby supported the team’s effort with 12 points, while Jerrell Bellamy added nine points to the total. Unfortunately for Troy, this game marked the end of their five-game winning streak, bringing disappointment to their home crowd.