- Click Picture above for the Tarleton Basketball Preview Show and an interview with Associate Head Coach Chris Reisman

STEPHENVILLE - The Tarleton men's basketball team is making up for their loss of the Rhema Bible game by adding Jarvis Christian to the 2011-12 schedule.  The Texans and Bulldogs tip-off at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15 in Wisdom Gym.

Tarleton is 8-1 on the year and 3-0 in Lone Star Conference play.  Atop the LSC standings, the Texans will get a break from league action when they host Jarvis Christian Thursday and will look to make it six straight wins.

On the season, Tarleton is averaging 70.1 points per game and holding opponents to 55.6 points each contest.  Overall, the Texans are shooting 48.2 percent from the floor, 30.1 percent from three-point range and 68.8 percent from the free throw line.

Opponents are shooting  36.5 percent from the floor, 25.0 percent from three point range and 61.3 percent from the free throw line. 

The Texans are ranked No. 4 in the nation in scoring defense, No. 7 in field goal percentage defense and No. 8 in three point field goal percentage defense.

Chris Harrell is leading the team with 11.9 points per game, while Zach Nelson is adding 11.0 points and Fabian Wilson is adding 10.7 points each contest.  Nelson and Wilson are also rebounding experts, averaging 5.1 and 6.7 rebounds per game respectively.

Shedrick Haynes is adding 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game, both team highs.

Not only is Tarleton +14.6 in scoring margin, but the Texans are also committing fewer turnovers and out-rebounding their opponents by comfortable margins.

Jarvis Christian has had a rough start to the season with a 2-5 record and fell to Midwestern State by 32 points earlier this year.  As a team, the Bulldogs are averaging 75.86 points per game and allowing 89.29 points per game to opponents.  Before heading into Red River Athletic Conference play, Jarvis Christian will be challenged by a red-hot Tarleton team.

Marcus O'Key is JCC's leading scorer with 14.3 points per game to go with 11.4 rebounds each contest.  Carlton Dean is adding 14 points and 4.9 assists per game as well, while Cedrick Richardson and Brian Lockett are both contributing double-digit points.

Live stats and live video are provided by Tarleton Athletic Communications while the live radio feed is courtesy of KSTV 93.1 FM.

For more information regarding the 2011-12 Tarleton men's basketball season, check out TarletonSports.com.