The Teams: Tarleton Texans (10-10, 3-4 WAC) vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers (10-10, 2-5 WAC)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Arena: Wisdom Gym
Day and Time: Thursday at 7 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (Kyle Youmans, Byron Anderson)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network (Kyle Crews)
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This marks the fourth all-time meeting, all within the last two years. This is the first game in Stephenville, however. The Texans lead the series 2-1. The three games were all decided by 14+.
• In last year's meeting, Tarleton had just 10 able players and three coaches due to COVID-19 protocols. They played just six players and still won 83-69. Freddy Hicks had 27 points and five boards, Javontae Hopkins had 18 points (7-9 FG), Noah McDavid had 17 points and three steals.
• Utah Tech just snapped a season-long five-game losing streak with an 89-76 win vs. NMSU.

 
QUICK HITS

• Tarleton is a perfect 8-0 at home, their best start at home to a season since 2014-15, a year they began 11-0 in Stephenville. They also have 10 straight home wins dating back to last season, their longest such stretch since Jan. 21-Nov. 21, 2015 (13 straight home wins).
• Tarleton is one of two WAC teams undefeated at home (Seattle U). Under head coach Billy Gillispie, the Texans are 24-8 (.750) at home across his three seasons.
• The Texans have rolled offensively at home, averaging 83.1 points on 51.5 percent shooting, including 41.6 percent from distance. That's well above their road marks of 58.8 PPG on 38.3 FG% and 22.4 3PT%. Tarleton has won by an average of 23.3 points at home this year.
• With a win Thursday, Tarleton would have their best conference start through eight games since joining the WAC at 4-4. They began 3-5 last year and 2-6 in 2020-21.
• Tarleton is eighth in the WAC standings with a 3.5 game cushion to make the WAC Tournament. In the WAC MBB Resume Seeding System, Tarleton is also eighth, while Utah Tech is ninth.
• The Texans have lost consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 6-18 (three games). They had their lowest scoring games of the season in the last two, with 47 at Seattle U and 48 at CBU.
• Tarleton's leading scorer, Freddy Hicks, returned from a nine-game absence last Thursday at Seattle U. This upcoming Thursday will be his first home game played since Dec. 3.
• In the last game, Tarleton played 17 players of their 19-man roster, and all 17 guys who traveled.

 
WHO'S HOT

• Shamir Bogues – Bogues has been Tarleton's constant over the past five games, averaging 13.4 points on 26-of-46 (.565) shooting and 6.6 rebounds during the stretch. In four of the five games, he's scored in double figures. Entering the span, he had three 10+ point games in the first 15.
• Garry Clark – Clark just recorded his third 10+ point game of the year with 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting, plus 5-of-6 from the free throw line, adding four rebounds. Per 40 minutes, Clark has the second best rebounding average on the team at 8.9, only behind Rod Brown at 9.6.
• Shakur Daniel – Daniel just played 39 minutes in the last game, recording seven points and five rebounds. Daniel is averaging the most minutes both in the WAC overall at 35.5 MPG and in conference play at 38.5 MPG. Nationally, he's 43rd in minutes per game.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
11: Tarleton will have a strong chance to pick it back up offensively Thursday, as Utah Tech is 11th IN THE WAC IN SCORING DEFENSE, allowing 72.4 PPG. The Trailblazers also allow the highest field goal percentage at .465.
  
70: The number 70 usually means a win for Tarleton, as the Texans are 9-1 THIS SEASON WHEN SCORING 70+ POINTS, and 1-9 when scoring under 70. Tarleton is also 10-1 when leading at halftime and 9-2 when outshooting their opponents.
 
29.4: At home against D1 opponents, Tarleton averages 29.4 FREE THROW ATTEMPTS PER GAME, the second highest average in games between D1 opponents in the country. Overall this season they're at 25.2 FTA per game, fifth most in the country and second most in the WAC (UTRGV leads at 27.4).
 
5.4: The Texans have an AVERAGE TURNOVER MARGIN of +5.4 this year, tied for the seventh best mark in the country with No. 3 ranked Houston (who was just No. 1 last week). Tarleton is second in the WAC behind Sam Houston at +5.8. The Texans just committed a season-low four turnovers.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans will host Grand Canyon for the first time in two seasons with a Saturday matchup set for 7 p.m. CT. The Lopes are 13-7 this year and 4-3 in WAC play. Saturday's game will be Rodeo Night, as fans are encouraged to don their western attire and show off their Texan pride. There will be 250 free foam cowboy hats distributed.