A week ago, the Bobcats fell to the Golden Eagles 80-70, making only one shot in an overtime collapse. But Texas State was more efficient on offense and stingier on defense this time around, holding Southern Miss to 42.3% shooting while making 47.6% of its own attempts.

Texas State will travel Thursday to Conway, S.C., to face Coastal Carolina. Here are some takeaways from the Bobcats’ win.

Southern Miss scored 30 paint points compared to 22 for Texas State. However, the Bobcats won the rebounding battle 33-24 and attempted 35 free throws compared to 24 for the Golden Eagles. Freshman DJ Hall continued to hum along, with 17 points and six rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting. But guard Kaden Gumbs surprised with a team-high eight rebounds and Malik Willis bounced back from a poor game against Louisiana, racking up six boards.

Texas State forward Robert Fields didn’t make a shot, but he hit a season-best nine of 10 free throw attempts. Unlike last time, the Bobcats were able to play the exact kind of game they like against the Golden Eagles.

Texas State doesn’t take many 3-pointers, and when it does, the attempts often don’t find the bucket. Head coach Terrence Johnson has been relying on Bobcats forward Kyndall Davis to be a consistent shooter, but before Saturday he hadn’t made more than one 3-pointer in a game since Dec. 10. 

Davis went 2 of 4 from beyond the arc, a sign that he might be finding his footing. The Louisiana transfer has never been a prolific 3-point shooter, averaging a sub-30% shooting percentage throughout his five-year career. But for what he lacks, he brings veteran experience, an unselfish mindset and defensive intensity to the court. Considering how the offense runs through Hall in the paint, any 3-pointers Davis isn’t needed, but it’s always a welcome addition.

The middle of the Sun Belt standings is packed, with seven teams holding four conference wins. The Bobcats are among them, and their upcoming stretch of games provides an opportunity to separate themselves from the group. Coastal Carolina is up next, which has an identical 4-4 record. Afterward, Texas State faces James Madison, Old Dominion and Marshall. The Dukes and the Monarchs are in the basement of the standings while the Thundering Herd are 12-7 overall and provide the biggest challenge to the Bobcats.

The road thus far has been rocky for Texas State. But aside from Troy and Georgia Southern, no team has stood out as markedly better than the Bobcats. If they want to change the narrative surrounding their season, this is a great time to start.