— By David Walsh
Texas State attempts and makes the fewest three-pointers in the Sun Belt Conference.
Wouldn’t you know a three from a hometown product served as the most important shot for the Bobcats in a thrilling 72-68 win over Marshall on Wednesday night inside Strahan Arena at University Events Center in San Marcos, Texas.
Kaden Gumbs, a San Marcos native, drained a three for a 70-68 lead with inside 30 seconds left to help the Bobcats improve to 11-1 at home. The home team nailed seven threes to five for Marshall, which made a Sun Belt Conference and school-record 26 threes against UL Monroe in its previous game last Thursday.
KG FOR 3 & THE LEAD!!!#EatEmUp | #NOW | @KJahnii pic.twitter.com/VNfkU9ZqT9
— Texas State MBB (@TXStateMBB) January 29, 2026
Marshall, which trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half, battled back and got even at 61 on a layup from Wyatt Fricks with 7:35 left. The Herd had made 6-of-8 shots on this run.
At 3:13, Erich Harding’s basket put the Herd ahead 66-63. DJ Hall’s basket at 2:55 cut the deficit to one (66-65), but Noah Otshudi scored for the Herd at 2:32 to make it a three-point margin again.
Texas State would then outscore the visitors 7-0 from that point to secure the win.
Robert Fields made two free throws at 2:06 to make it 68-67. After a missed shot by each team, the Herd’s Landen Joseph missed a three with 44 seconds remaining and that set the stage for Gumbs. He sank what proved to be a winning triple with 21 seconds left.
After a timeout by the Herd, Otshudi missed a shot, Mark Drone drew a foul and made both free throws to set the final score.
“We came out and fought the second half,” Herd coach Corny Jackson said on postgame radio “Still not pleased with our free throws. Can’t go on the roads even if they miss a few, and shoot 58 percent (7 of 12 and 3 of 8 second half) and expect to win.
“Kai (Spears) gave us a huge boost. He went down with an ankle. He gave us a chance to win. We made a crucial mistake at the end. You never help off the corner on the strong side. Credit them. They hit the big shots.”
Spears, who had more than two points once this season before Wednesday, scored five and made both field-goal attempts.
Matt Van Komen, the 7-foot-4 transfer from Elon, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two shots in 17 minutes, then went out with an injury.
Harding contributed six points and five rebounds.
“Harding was tough and physical,” Jackson said. “He was a big help. Matt controlled the boards and paint until he went out with a little bump. You almost get there, but that doesn’t make it. I thought we had chances to win. They tried to give us the game. Make one of those shots or get a rebound. It’s hard to win on the road.”
Marshall (13-8, 5-4 Sun Belt) blocked eight shots overall and Fricks led with four. Fricks led in points with 16, Otshudi scored 15 and Jalen Speer 14.
The Herd falls to 3-6 on the road.
Drone led the Bobcats (12-11, 5-6 SBC) with 17 points. Davis had 15 and Gumbs and Jalen Bolden 10 each.
Marshall got some good looks against Texas State zone at the outset, but failed to hit in falling behind.
The Herd scored eight points in fewer than 4 minutes to start, but managed only two points over the next 4-plus minutes and saw an early four-point advantage come a 14-10 deficit.
Texas State led 39-29 at halftime.
“We’re wide open and miss. That set the tone for the game,” Jackson said. “I wish we could make 26 every game. Somehow we’ve got to figure out a way to win tough games.”