DALLAS – Tarleton State Men's Basketball opened its 2024-25 with the first of six power four conference matchups with a 96-62 loss at SMU at the Moody Coliseum on Monday night.
 
On the opening night of college basketball, the Texans (0-1) were unable to pull off one of the upsets dropping to the ACC's Mustangs (1-0). The Purple and White suffered their first loss in the state of Texas in a regular season game since Saturday, Feb. 22 at former WAC member UTRGV.
 
"We didn't guard them, we turned it over and we didn't play together, " said head coach Billy Gillispie. "Our deal is play smart, play hard, play together … we didn't do that tonight."
 
Bubu Benjamin posted a career-high 21 points. Benjamin made just three shots from the floor, with one coming from three-point land. The sophomore shot a career-best 14 for 16 from the charity stripe. The Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, native, added four boards and a team-high three assists.
 
Matt Krass posted 10 points off the bench. Matt became the second newcomer or freshman to notched double digits off the bench joining Izzy Miles and Devon Barnes from a season ago.
 
Nick Krass opened the scoring for the Texans sinking a triple after an offensive rebound by Benjamin. Tarleton opened with a 5-0 lead with a Jordan Mizell layup after a Mustangs turnover putting the Texans ahead in the first two minutes of the contest.
 
SMU responded with a 10-0 run across the next 2:21. Benjamin knocked his first triple of the game to cut the Texans within a pair, 10-8. SMU then erupted on a 22-0 run to distance themselves from the Purple and White. The Mustangs capped its run with a trio of triples to take a 32-8 lead at the midpoint of the first half.
 
The Texans swapped baskets in the final 10 minutes of the half to trail at the half, 51-28. SMU shot light out in the first half shooting 59 percent from the floor and 50 percent from deep. Both teams were impeccable at the free throw line with the Mustangs shooting a perfect 11-for-11 and the Texans at 93 percent, 13-for-14.
 
In the second half, the Texans were unable to turn it around. The Mustangs outscored the Purple and White, 45-34. Tarleton out-shot the Mustangs from deep shooting 50 percent. The Texans were even on the boards in the second session each totaling 18.
 
Matt Krass was a bright spot for the Texans in the second 20 minutes. The freshman notched 10 points while shooting four-for-seven from the floor. The Gulfport, Miss., native shot two-for-three in the second half from deep.
 
Tarleton had five different players score in the second half. Benjamin added nine points in the second half, while shooting five-for-six from the line. Caleb Evans and Miles each added six, while Joseph Martinez notched his first three points of his collegiate career. Martinez hit one of two from the line before hitting a mid-range for his first bucket.
 
SMU shot 34-for-63 from the floor, a 54 percent rate. Tarleton shot 18-for-49 from the floor at a 37 percent clip. The Texans shot 46 percent from deep (6-for-13) with SMU shooting 42 percent (11-for-26). The Mustangs out-rebounded the Purple and White, 35-29. SMU led the turnover battle forcing 23 Texan turnovers while turning the ball over 13 times.
 
Tarleton will return to Wisdom Gym for its regular season home opener against Sam Houston. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in the first game of the final season in Wisdom Gym.