STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texan men's basketball team will put its undefeated Lone Star Conference South Division record on the line Wednesday, Jan. 27 when it hosts Abilene Christian at 8 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.
The Texans are coming off a 69-56 victory at West Texas A&M on Saturday that handed head coach Lonn Reisman his 450th victory at Tarleton. Reisman has the most career Division II wins in the LSC among men's basketball coaches. In fact, he is the only one with over 350 Division II victories in the LSC.
Tarleton, 15-3 overall and 3-0 in the division, is alone atop the LSC South Division standings after the win at WTAMU. The Texans have started division play 3-0 for the sixth time in the last nine seasons.
The Texans, who have won 10 of their last 11 contests, are led this season by Corin Henry with 11.7 points per game, 89 assists and 34 steals. Also averaging in double figures is Devon Hills (11.7), Jeremiah Wilson (11.3) and Effran Bryant (10.3). Wilson leads the team in rebounds (9.0) and blocks (31). Donta Smith is second in rebounding with 6.5 boards per game. Bryant is second in assists with 38 and in steals with 16.
Tarleton is averaging .436 from the floor, .366 from the three-point arc and .692 from the charity stripe while holding opponents to .359 from the field, .299 from the arc and .649 from the line. Tarleton is ranked No. 3 in the nation in field goal percentage defense and No. 5 in scoring defense. Tarleton is outscoring opponents 71.3 to 55.2 and outrebounding them 37.9 to 33.1.
In conference action, the Texans' average at the stripe improves to .764 while Tarleton is shooting .497 from the floor. Opponents are hitting just .342 from the field and .188 from the arc in South Division action.
The Wildcats are coming off an 82-58 loss at Angelo State on Saturday to fall to 0-3 in the division and 7-11 overall. The last win for ACU came at East Central on Jan. 9, 86-79. The Wildcats had won three of four before dropping the first three South Division games of the season.
ACU is led by Eddie Thompson with 13.7 points per game while Marcus Washington is second with 10.0 points per game. Leading the team in rebounding is Washington with 5.7 boards per outing while Giordan Cole is second with 5.6.
The Wildcats are averaging .446 from the field, .300 from the arc and .641 from the line this season while opponents are shooting .443 from the floor, .344 from the arc and .696 from the stripe. The Wildcats are outscoring opponents 76.2 to 73.7 and outrebounding them 38.1 to 36.3.
However, in the three division games thus far, the Wildcats are being outscored 79.7 to 63.7 and outrebounded 39.0 to 33.7. The team's shooting percentage has also dropped to .375 while the opponents' has gone up to .469.
The all-time series between the two teams began in 1962, and ACU has a 30-27 advantage. However, under Reisman, the Texans are 26-8 against the Wildcats. Tarleton claimed the last meeting 80-64 in Stephenville on Feb. 18, 2009. The last ACU victory was on Jan. 28, 2009 in Abilene, 73-70 – the first Wildcat win since Feb. 6, 1999. Tarleton had won 16 straight prior to the loss in Abilene.
Wednesday is WHITE OUT night in Wisdom Gym as well as Brock and Morgan Mill night. All fans from Brock and Morgan Mill will get in free with proof of residence. Also, students from Henderson Junior High will get in free with the ticket they received at school.
The game will be broadcast on KSTV 93.1 FM and fans can watch the action live via Tarleton All-Access and/or view the live stats via TarletonSports.com.
