STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Men's Basketball hits the road yet again to take on its fourth Power Four opponent of the season, the Michigan Wolverines on Thursday night in the Crisler Center at 7:30 p.m. CT.
The game will be streamed on Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler and Jordan Taylor on the call. Kyle Crews will have the call on the Tarleton Sports Radio Network on 90.5 KTRL. Live stats will be provided by StatBroadcast available on tarletonsports.com. Follow @tarletonmbb on Instagram, X and Facebook for live updates, highlights and content.
Thursday will be the Texans second matchup in program history against the Wolverines. The two programs met for the first time on Nov. 24, 2021 at the Crisler Center. The Texans won the turnover battle 21-9, one of four times they forced a Power Four school to commit over 20 turnovers. They ultimately fell, 65-54. A pair of now-professional Texans, Tahj Small and Montre Gipson each logged double-digit scoring totals.
A year after redshirting and spending all his time on the scout team, Martinez finds himself as a viable member of the rotation. In the first five games, he ranks third in minutes (27.5) and fourth in scoring (7.0) on the Texans. Martinez was the only Texan to score in double figures against the Bears with 11. Against Tabor, he tied for the team lead posting a career best 17 points. He also shot a perfect 6-for-6 from the line and was the only Texan to not commit a single turnover.
Tarleton will play its 16th Power Four conference opponent on Thursday night. The Texans are 1-14 in those matchups, with a victory against the ACC's Boston College. Tarleton has won the turnover battle six times including against three ranked opponents, #3 Kansas, #20 Michigan, #3 Gonzaga. The Purple and White forced 20 or more turnovers four times and committed less than ten on three occasions. TSU has trailed by less than nine at the end of the first half in 10 of those contests and lost by less than nine in four of those.
This includes trailing by just five at half last time against Florida State. This list includes, #3 Kansas, #20 Michigan, #3 Gonzaga, and #12 Baylor all on the road. The Texans have been up at the half against Texas A&M, Stanford, and Boston College.
The Texans have drawn four technical fouls this season in its first five games. Tarleton has therefore taken 8 free throws with the Purple and White making seven of those attempts.
Bubu Benjamin made the first two of the season at SMU.
Joseph Martinez has been the selected shooter by coach Gillispie on the last six shots, with him successfully executing five of those. In the ensuing possession after the free throws, the Texans have been unsuccessful three of the four times. TSU has turned the ball over twice and only scored two points.
Head Coach
Billy Gillispie is chasing the 200-career win mark, needing eight more more to eclipse the milestone. Gillispie served as an assistant at Baylor from 1995-97. Gillispie returns to the floor after stepping away due to medical circumstances last season after the fourth game of the season.
Tarleton will head to the Bahamas next for the 2024 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship spanning from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. The Purple and White will open with Iona on Friday followed by Hofstra and Indiana State on the weekend.
