STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texan men's basketball team will host the Texan Tip-Off Classic this weekend at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville.
The Texans will play Texas-Permian Basin on Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. before hosting Newman at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20. The two Tarleton opponents will also play Angelo State with NU playing the Rams at 5 p.m. on Friday before UTPB and ASU play Saturday at 5 p.m.
The Texans are coming off a 108-30 season opening win that set a new modern-day record for margin of victory under head coach Lonn Reisman.
Leading the way for Tarleton in the win was Darrion Washington with 19 points after the guard was five-for-five from behind the three-point arc. Also scoring in double figures was Devon Hills (17), Warren Webb (13) and Fabian Wilson (10). Wes Dipprey led the team with 10 rebounds followed by Donta Smith with seven.
Tarleton averaged .514 from the floor, .409 from the three-point arc and .771 from the charity stripe in the win while the opponent shot .237 from the field, .286 from the arc and .571 from the free throw line. Tarleton outrebounded Arlington Baptist in the opener, 55-16.
Texas-Permian Basin is 0-1 on the season with an 80-79 loss at Abilene Christian on Nov. 12. In the loss, Erik Martin led the team with 20 points while Jamal Holden (15), Ke'Andre Derrick (14) and Louis Crane (12) all scored in double figures. Martin and Mihai Urichianu tied for the team lead in rebounds with five each.
The Falcons averaged .453 from the field, .400 from the arc and .677 from the line in the game while their opponents shot .433 from the floor, .556 from the arc and .767 from the stripe. UTPB is being outrebounded 41.0 to 32.0.
The two teams have met two times, and Tarleton has claimed both wins in 2008 and 2009.
Newman enters the weekend 1-2 overall with a 91-78 overtime victory against Southwestern Oklahoma. The Jets suffered an 83-68 overtime loss to West Texas A&M on Nov. 13 and a 95-68 loss at Pittsburg State on Nov. 16.
Keaton Schultz leads the Jets with a 15.3 points per game average while William Burdette (15.0) and Eric Saunders (10.0) are also averaging in double digits. Burdette and Schultz lead the team with a 5.0 rebounds per game average each.
The Jets are shooting .425 from the field, .396 from the arc and .591 from the line while opponents are averaging .466 from the floor, .273 from the arc and .761 from the stripe. NU is being outrebounded 45.7 to 35.0 and outscored 85.3 to 75.7.
Saturday's game will be the first between Tarleton and Newman on the hardwood.
In the five seasons the Texans have hosted the Tip-Off Classic, Tarleton is 10-0.
Friday's game will be broadcast on KEQX 89.7 FM, but Saturday's game can be heard on KSTV 93.1 FM. Live stats will be available to both games on the Tarleton Athletics website. Live video is also available.
