The Bobcats started slow before picking up steam toward the end of the first half, taking a 53-23 lead heading into halftime. They finished with a 63% field goal percentage, having hit 10 of their 19 three-pointers. Texas State guard Mark Drone led all scorers with 19 points, one rebound and three assists on six-of-nine shooting. 

Texas A&M-San Antonio is in its second year as a basketball program and could not keep up with Texas State’s torrid pace. Carson Brown led the Jaguars, recording 11 points and two rebounds.

Here are some takeaways from Texas State’s win.

Texas State head coach Terrence Johnson said his team’s attitude and focus were much better than they were during Monday’s 83-48 loss to Bowling Green. It wasn’t perfect, but the Bobcats disrupted the Jaguars’ rhythm and played defense at a much higher level than they did previously.

With so many new faces, the coach is still learning things about the team. Johnson has rotated players constantly through the first two games, trying to learn more about them and what they can give to the team.

“There are minutes out there for some guys … and we’re interviewing,” Johnson said. “We’re trying to figure out who it is that we can depend on, and we’re trying to figure out who we can’t.”

Drone and fellow guard Kaden Gumbs are the lone returners from last year’s team, and Johnson said he expected them to take on a larger role this year. Expectations were high, as both were named to the All-Sun Belt Preseason teams.

Despite a disappointing debut, Drone and Gumbs asserted themselves as the best players on the court against Texas A&M-San Antonio. Gumbs put up 16 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals alongside Drone. Johnson said against Bowling Green, the two seemed to be waiting for someone to take charge, when it was them who should’ve been leading the team.

“It takes a little while. They’re still learning how to become comfortable in that and know they’re not going to be judged for it,” Johnson said.

It’s difficult to compare Texas State’s first two games, which were blowouts on opposite ends of the spectrum. One thing that could be a consistent issue, however, is rebounding.

The Bobcats lost the battle of the boards against the Falcons 30-26. They handily surpassed the Jaguars in defensive rebounding, 35-17, but actually lost 9-8 on the offensive end. Tulane has some stoutly built forwards and centers, so Texas State will need to be on its A-game when it visits New Orleans, LA, for a Saturday matchup.