The Teams: Tarleton Texans (5-5, 0-0 WAC) at Air Force Falcons (7-4, 0-0 MWC)
Where: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Arena: Clune Arena
Day and Time: Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: Altitude and Mountain West Sports Network (Bill Hanzlik, Todd Romero)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Kyle Crews)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the second all-time meeting, as the Texans beat the Falcons last season in Stephenville 67-45. It was Tarleton's second best shooting performance of the season, making 25-of-43 (.581) from the field. Freddy Hicks (11 points, 9 rebounds) and Shamir Bogues (11 points, 3 steals) each scored in double figures.
• This is the third time head coach Billy Gillispie has faced off against Air Force, the first time in Colorado Springs. His first encounter with the Falcons was in 2002 while leading UTEP.
• Air Force is allowing just 60.6 PPG (t-26th best in D1) on 25.5 3PT% (sixth best in D1).

 
QUICK HITS

• Tarleton is looking to snap a tied-season-long two-game slide. The Texans are looking to snap a six-game road losing streak, dating back to last season. Their two wins at the Paradise Jam at the Virgin Islands were considered neutral games.
• This is the end of Tarleton's tough three-game road trip -- at No. 12 Baylor, at UCF and at Air Force. The three teams are a combined 22-8 (.733). Tarleton's competition has remained as tough as ever. Three of the Texans' five wins came against; Belmont, who is now 157-46 (.773) over their last seven years; Boston College, Tarleton's first Power Five conference victory in team history; Weber State, who went 38-18 (.679) over their previous two seasons.
• With a win Sunday, Tarleton would have its first winning mark through 11 games since 2018-19 (9-2).
• In his fifth collegiate season, fourth at the D1 level, Shakur Daniel just scored a new career-high of 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting at UCF. It's his fifth 10+ point game this year, 13th at Tarleton.
• Tarleton plays some of the best defense in the nation. The Texans are sixth in the country in forced turnovers per game (20.2) and tied-ninth in average steals (10.9). The Texans' +6.8 average turnover margin is tied-sixth best in the country. The last game marked the first time this year the Texans had more turnovers than their opponent.
• Tarleton averages the tied-seventh most free throw attempts per game in the country (26.8). When getting to the line at least 25 times this year, Tarleton is 4-2 (1-3 when less than 25 FTA).

 
WHO'S HOT

• Shakur Daniel – Daniel is averaging a career-high 8.1 points per game on a career-best 47.5 shooting percentage. Over the past two games he's averaged 14.0 points on 11-of-22 (.500) shooting, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals, playing every single minute over that span.
• Rod Brown – Brown had a season-best performance at UCF, going for a season-high six points (3-6 FG) and a season-high nine rebounds. He played all 40 minutes, the first time he's been over 20 minutes this year. Over his first eight games he played a combined 37 minutes.
• Shamir Bogues – Bogues had eight points on 3-of-5 shooting at UCF, adding three rebounds in 36 minutes. He's at career-high shooting percentages across the board (47.8 FG%, 36.4 3PT%, 61.5 FT%). Among Texans with 20+ FGA, Bogues has the third best FG% (Javontae Hopkins and Garry Clark are at .487).

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
45: When Tarleton faced Air Force last season, the Texans allowed just 45 points. That's the fewest points allowed by Tarleton OPPOSITE A DIVISION I OPPONENT in program history. It was the third lowest output by the Falcons all of last year.
  
19: In a basketball era that heavily relies on three-point shooting, Tarleton doesn't fit the mold. Just 19.0 percent of Tarleton's POINTS HAVE COME FROM BEYOND THE ARC this year. Air Force averages double that, with 38.1 percent of their points coming via the three-point line.
 
2: Tarleton has two players in the WAC's TOP-25 SCORING LEADERBOARD, with Freddy Hicks fourth at 17.9 PPG and Jakorie Smith 22nd at 11.5 PPG. The last Texan to finish a season at 17.0+ PPG was Josh Hawley (17.3 PPG) in 2018-19. Neither Hicks nor Smith played in Tarleton's last game.
 
12: The WAC has had an impressive season in non-conference play, with several major upsets, and several more near-upsets. Of the 13 teams in the conference, 12 ARE AT .500 OR BETTER, including Tarleton. Just UT Arlington is below .500 at 4-7.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Tarleton will be back at home for the first time in nearly three weeks for a Wednesday matchup against Huston-Tillotson at 7 p.m. CT. The Texans are 3-0 at Wisdom Gym this season, with the margin of victory a combined 99 points (33.0 average margin of victory).