- Game Notes

STEPHENVILLE - The Tarleton men's basketball team will host Incarnate Word for their third Lone Star Conference match-up of the season on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.  The Cardinals lead the all-time series 8-7.

LAST WEEK
    The Texans (7-1) escaped Kingsville with a narrow 72-70 victory after the Javelinas' late surge came up short.  Tarleton won their fourth game in a row after shooting 51.1 percent from the floor and using a 14-point halftime lead to hold on for the victory.  Brian Word scored 16 points off the bench.

THIS YEAR
    On the season, Tarleton is shooting 48.3 percent from the floor, 29.6 percent from three-point land and 68.4 percent from the charity stripe.  The Texans are averaging 70.0 points per game and 35.1 rebounds per game.

HOLDING OFF OPPONENTS
    Opponent's are shooting just 37.2 percent overall and averaging 55.1 points per game against the Texans.  Tarleton is also rebounding its opponents and commits fewer turnovers.

STATISTICAL LEADERS
    Chris Harrell leads the team with 12.3 points per game, while Zach Nelson adds 11.1 and Fabian Wilson adds 10.1 points each game.  Nelson and Wilson are also combining for 13.4 rebounds per game together.  Shedrick Haynes and Chris Harrell are anchoring the defense with 13 and 14 steals respectively on the year.  Wilson leads the team in blocks with 12 total.

SIZING UP THE OPPONENT
    The Cardinals are 6-3 this season and 2-1 in conference play.  UIW is also 2-2 on the road and winners of four of its last five games, including wins over Eastern New Mexico and A&M-Commerce.
 
STOPPING THE CARDINALS
    Overall, UIW is averaging 75.0 points a game and holding opponents to 65.8 points a game.  The Cardinals are shooting 47.7 percent from the floor, 29.6 percent from three-point range and 60.7 percent from the free throw line.  UIW is outrebounding opponents by 5.3 boards a game and has 100 steals on the year, 38 more than opponents.

WHO TO LOOK FOR
    UIW is led offensively by Dionelle Rucker, who is averaging 13 points per game, and Chris Johnson, who is averaging 11.6 points and 8.8 rebounds each contest.
    The Cardinals have four players averaging double-digit points.  They also have five players with double-digit steals and six players with double-digit assists.

AMONGST THE BEST
    The Texans are ranked near the top of almost every statistical category in the conference.
    Tarleton is No. 1 in scoring defense (55.1 ppg) and No. 2 in scoring margin (+14.9) behind Midwestern St.  The Texans are also No. 1 in three-point field goal defense (.265), No. 3 in blocked shots (3.5) and No. 3 in defensive rebounding (25.4).
    Individually, Chris Harrell is No. 14 in scoring (12.3ppg), while Fabian Wilson is No. 4 in rebounding (7.0)  and No. 1 in blocks (1.5).  Zach Nelson leads the conference in field goal percentage (.718).

NO. 1 DEFENSE
    Tarleton finished the 2010-11 season as the No. 1 defense in the nation.  That was not only at the Division II level, but also in Division I, III and Junior College ranks.  This year's team has big shoes to fill, but has held opponents in check thus far as opposing offenses have averaged just 55.1 points per game.

REMAINING IN THE RANKINGS
    Tarleton was ranked No. 8 in the NABC/NCAA Division II Preseason Polls and No. 1 in the Lone Star Conference Preseason poll.
    The Texans are now No. 12 in the nation and No. 1 in the LSC standings.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
    The Texans are 7-1 on the year.  LSC play continues for Tarleton as they take on Incarnate Word at home Saturday.  Next week, the Texans will host Jarvis Christian on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m.

REISMAN'S QUEST FOR 500
    Head coach Lonn Reisman is just 10 wins shy of getting his 500th victory at Tarleton.  He entered the season with a career record of 483-210.

DID YOU KNOW?
    The Texans' two-point victory over Kingsville was their first single-digit win this season.  All six of the other wins this year have been by 11 or more points.

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

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