The Teams: Tarleton Texans (5-6, 0-0 WAC) vs. Huston-Tillotson Rams (4-8, 2-3 RRAC)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Arena: Wisdom Gym
Day and Time: Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (Kyle Youmans, Scott Garner)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Kyle Crews)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• The Texans and Rams have a storied history from their NAIA days, although it was one-sided. This is the eighth all-time meeting and the first since 1994, Tarleton's last NAIA year. The Texans lead the all-time series 7-0, 4-0 in Stephenville. The two teams first matched up in 1971.
• The Rams just snapped their season-long three-game losing streak. Faite Williams had 29 points (14-19 FT), eight rebounds and three steals in the Rams' 72-69 win over Louisiana Christian.
• The Rams had their first winning season in 2019. Thomas Henderson is in his 10th season as HC.

 
QUICK HITS

• Tarleton is a perfect 3-0 at home. With a win Wednesday, they'd have their first 4-0 start at home to a season since 2015-16. Dating back to last season, the Texans have won five straight at home, their longest home winning streak since Dec. 7, 2021, through Jan. 8, 2022 (six games).
• Tarleton is looking to snap a season-long three-game slide.
• Although this is Tarleton's last non-conference game before starting conference play, it isn't their last non-conference game this season. The Texans will host Chicago State on Jan. 11.
• In the last game, Tarleton attempted just three three-point shots, going 0-of-3. It marked their first game without a three-point make since Jan. 16, 2022, at Grand Canyon. It's Tarleton's first time under five three-point attempts since going 1-of-4 from distance at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Feb. 13, 2013. Since 2004, Tarleton has had just three games with five or fewer three-point attempts, with three being the lowest in the last game.
• Jakorie Smith made his return from a two-game absence in the last game, going for 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting and five rebounds in 21 minutes.
• Tiger Booker just poured in a career-high 18 points off the bench on 7-of-14 shooting, adding two steals in 32 minutes. It's the most bench points scored by a Texan since Noah McDavid dropped 25 points (11-12 FT) as a reserve against Dallas Christian last season (Dec. 7, 2021).
• Javontae Hopkins started the last game, his first this season and fourth ever in his 90th game.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Tiger Booker – Booker has scored 10+ points in two of his last three games after not doing so once in his first six. He's now 15-of-18 from the free throw line this season, owning the best free throw percentage on the team at 83.3 percent (min. 3 FTA).
• Shakur Daniel – Daniel has played in 120 straight minutes, playing the entirety of three straight games. He's scored 10+ in each game, setting a new career-long stretch of double-digit scoring games. He's averaged 13.3 points on 50.0 percent shooting (15-30 FG) during the span.
• Jakorie Smith – Smith has back-to-back double-digit scoring games, averaging 15.0 points on 10-of-14 (.714) shooting, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals over his last pair. He's the team's second leading scorer (11.9 PPG), second leading rebounder (3.7 RPG) and leader in average steals (2.0 SPG).

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
8: Tarleton knows how to draw the whistle, averaging the EIGHTH MOST FREE THROW ATTEMPTS PER GAME in the country at 26.8. UTRGV leads the WAC and the country with 28.6 free throw attempts per game.
  
17.4: In a basketball era that heavily relies on three-point shooting, Tarleton doesn't fit the mold. Just 17.4 percent of Tarleton's POINTS HAVE COME FROM BEYOND THE ARC this year.
 
6: Tarleton smothers their opponents throughout each possession, and it pays off. The Texans AVERAGE 10.9 STEALS PER GAME, the tied-sixth best average in the country. They're seventh in turnovers forced per game at 19.8.
 
61: The Texans were feeling it in the first half in their last game, making NEARLY 61 PERCENT FROM THE FIELD, shooting 17-of-28 (.607). It marked their best first half shooting clip of the season and their second best overall (.686, 24-of-35 in the second half vs. Kansas Christian).
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans have an eight-day break in-between games, able to celebrate the Christmas season at home. They'll stay in Stephenville for their next game against one of the WAC's newest members, UT Arlington, on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. CT.