THE GAMES
No. 24 Tarleton men's basketball opens the 2019-20 season on the road in Fort Smith, Arkansas for the RMAC/LSC Challenge. The nationally-ranked Texans will take on Metro State on Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. followed by Black Hills State on Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. Both opponents are in the RMAC, counting as in-region games.
 
THE BROADCAST
Each game will have a live radio broadcast presented by the Tarleton Sports Network presented by North Texas Ford Dealers. The Voice of the Texans Casey Hogan will have the call for Tarleton basketball this season. The radio broadcast can be heard on KTRL 90.5 FM in Stephenville and surrounding areas or online at TarletonSports.com/ListenLive.
 
ABOUT TARLETON
The Texans are ranked No. 24 in the NABC poll to open the season, marking the 12th time the Texans will open a season nationally ranked. The Texans were picked fourth in the LSC Preseason poll and senior forward Josh Hawley was named the LSC Preseason Player of the Year. Tarleton is coming off a 21-10 season in Chris Reisman's first-year as head coach. Reisman returns seven letter winners and two starters from last year's squad, including Hawley and Randall Broddie. Other key returning players are Jaraan Lands, Clashon Gaffney, and Isaiah Boling. Reisman and his staff recruited nine players to fill out the roster, including five transfers and four from high school. The roster additions include Division I transfers in Zach Naylor (Ole Miss) and Ray Burt Jr. (IPFW) and juco transfers Devin Bethely (Seward JC), Josh Williams (Panola JC), and Daniel Melvin (St. Petersburg JC).
 
ABOUT METRO STATE
Metro State is coming off a 12-14 season where they finished ninth in the RMAC under first-year head coach Michael Bahl. MSU Denver returns four starters – guards Druce Asah and Garrett Carter, as well as forwards Kendall McIntosh and Elijah Straughter – plus two other letterwinners and three redshirted players. Three newcomers have also joined the program. Metro State is picked fifth in the RMAC preseason poll.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES: METRO STATE
Tarleton and Metro State are meeting for the third time in program history. The two teams split the first two games with the Texans winning the most recent matchup in 2017 played in Stephenville. This will be the first neutral site game in the series.
 
ABOUT BLACK HILLS STATE
Black Hills State is coming off an 18-11 season where they went 15-7 in the RMAC and advanced to the RMAC Tournament Championship game under second-year head coach Ryan Thompson.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES: BHSU
Tarleton and Black Hills State are meeting for the first time in program history.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans will return home for its 2019 season opener to take on Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.