The Teams: Tarleton Texans (4-3, 0-0 WAC) vs. Wiley College Wildcats (3-5, 0-0 GCAC)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Arena: Wisdom Gym
Day and Time: Saturday at 2 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Kyle Crews)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This is the sixth all-time meeting between these two programs dating back to 1989, the third in the last five years. Tarleton is 5-0 all-time, all in Stephenville, with a 30.0 point average margin of victory. Tarleton has scored 90+ points in their last four games vs. the Wildcats.
• This is the second of three games for Tarleton against a non-NCAA Division I program. In the Texans' first one, Nov. 10 vs. Kansas Christian, Tarleton won by 46, 95-49.
• In the NAIA, Wiley College is ranked No. 211 in PPG (66.4) out of the 233 programs.

 
QUICK HITS

• Tarleton is off to its first winning start through seven games since becoming an NCAA Division I program, with the competition remaining as tough as ever. Three of the Texans' four wins came against; Belmont, who is now 156-44 (.780) 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.
• Tarleton is 2-0 at home this year with both wins by double figures. It's already their best start at Wisdom Gym since 2016-17, a season they began 3-0 at home.
• Tarleton's bench excelled in the last game, going for 46 points, led by Lue Williams (16), Javontae Hopkins (11) and Coreyoun Rushin (10). It was the second highest output of the season from the reserves (48 vs. Kansas Christian) and Tarleton's sixth most under HC Billy Gillispie.
• The Texans remain in the top-15 nationally in turnovers forced per game (tied-10th at 20.1) and average steals (14th at 11.3). Wiley averages the 20th most turnovers at the NAIA level (17.6).
• In the last game, Freddy Hicks scored his fifth straight 10+ point game, his 11th straight overall dating back to last season, a career-long stretch. He's averaging a team-high 21.0 points per game, the tied-15th best average in NCAA Division I, third in the WAC (SU's Tyson, SUU's Jones).
• The WAC has had a great start this year, with all teams at 3+ wins. Tarleton is one of 11 at .500+.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Freddy Hicks – Hicks is the leader in leading the team in scoring (three times), rebounding (five times) and assists (four times). He has totaled 14+ points and 6+ rebounds in every game this year. He's third in the WAC in scoring, tied-fourth in rebounding, tied-11th in average assists.
• Lue Williams – Williams just had a team-high 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-5 from distance, to go with four rebounds in 39 minutes. He's the third leading scorer with all games as a reserve. Over his past two, he's at 15.0 PPG on 10-of-14 (.714) shooting, 5-of-7 3PT (.714).
• Coreyoun Rushin – Rushin just had a season-best game, logging season-highs in points (10), rebounds (five), assists (three) and steals (one) in a season-high 22 minutes. He scored his first double-digit scoring game since dropping 10 against GCU with Chicago State on Feb. 23 last season.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
7: Tarleton knows how to get to the free throw line, averaging 27.4 free throws per game, the seventh BEST AVERAGE IN ALL OF NCAA DIVISION I. By himself, Freddy Hicks had 28 FTA against Belmont on Nov. 18, the most FTA by a player in the country this season.
  
20: In a basketball era that heavily relies on three-point shooting, Tarleton doesn't fit the mold. Just 20 percent of Tarleton's POINTS HAVE COME FROM BEYOND THE ARC this year.  Only UTRGV (20.2 percent) and Stephen F. Austin (22.6 percent) join Tarleton below 24 percent in the WAC.
 
6: It's been mentioned that Tarleton is a league-leader in turnovers forced, but it's also important to note they have the fifth fewest turnovers per game in the WAC. Tarleton has the sixth best AVERAGE TURNOVER MARGIN in all of the country at +7.6 per game.
 
10.1: At 74.7 points per game, Tarleton is averaging 10.1 POINTS MORE PER GAME than they averaged last season. Through seven games year-over-year, Tarleton is averaging 18.4 more points per game (56.3).
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Tarleton will have a big matchup at one of the top teams in the country, No. 6 ranked Baylor, on Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT. The Bears are recent national champions, winning the 2021 NCAA Tournament with an 86-70 victory over Gonzaga to cap off a 28-2 season.