LAS VEGAS, Nevada --- No. 7 Tarleton played its first ranked opponent of the season, but they handled No. 16 Rollins like they have in the other eight wins as the Texans rolled past the Tars 73-51 in the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic.

It's the fifth straight win for Tarleton (9-1) and the second straight by double digits. The Texans also improved to 5-0 all-time in the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic.

Senior guard Michael Hardge scored a career-high 21 points and matched a career best with five steals. Hardge also had four assists, three rebounds and a block.

Tarleton held a slim lead at 16-15 through the first ten minutes of the game, but went on 7-0 run capped off by EJ Reed's steal and assist to Malcolm Hamilton for a two-handed slam on the fast break for a 22-15 advantage.

Hardge drained a deep three at the top of the key for a 30-19 lead and the first double-digit lead of the game. Rollins never got within single digits the rest of the way.

Tarleton closed the first half on a 13-2 run to lead 37-21 at half. The 21 points given up is the fourth straight game the Texans have held opponents to 25 points or less at the break.

Tarleton opened the second half and stretched its lead to 20 on a two-handed slam by Hardge to make it 44-24.

The Texans' defense got a boost when Romond Jenkins joined the starting lineup as the junior forward pulled down seven rebounds in his first game against UTPB on Monday and followed that up with a 10-rebound performance. Jenkins also had six points, four steals and two blocks. All are career highs for Jenkins.

Jenkins wasn't alone in protecting the rim as EJ Reed recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and matched Jenkins with 10 rebounds.

Leading 63-48 with 2:49 left, Charles Hill put the finishing touches to the statement win by going on an 8-0 run in 73 seconds by himself. Hill finished with 18 points and three steals.

Malcolm Hamilton narrowly missed his fifth straight double-double with nine points and seven rebounds.

Deshawn Riddick came off the bench to score six points on two three-pointers and added two assists. The Texans made seven threes in the win. Tarleton also shot 44 percent to Rollins' 34 percent. Tarleton has shot a higher percentage from the floor in seven of the ten games, winning all seven.

The win was head coach Lonn Reisman's 598^th at Tarleton. The Texans have now nine of the first ten games in three straight seasons and eight of ten in the last six.

Tarleton will take on Drury on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. CT/1:15 p.m. PT for the final game of the South Hoops Classic.