STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State Men's Basketball will open their 2025-26 campaign for the second-straight season on the road at SMU at the Moody Coliseum with tip off at 7 p.m.
The Texans season opener against the Mustangs will be available on ACCXN, and ESPN+. The game will also be streamed on the radio by 90.5 KTRL and available online on the Tarleton Sports Radio Network. Live Stats will be provided by Stat Broadcast. For the latest updates, content and highlights, follow @tarletonmbb on Instagram and X.
Tarleton State will own one of the largest rosters in the NCAA this season. The Texans will have 19 players on their roster with seven returning from last season and 12 newcomers. With the addition of 12 newcomers to the program, seven came in as transfers, four as true freshman and one entering college after playing in the New Zealand Basketball League for three years. Among the seven transfers, three hailed from junior college, two from Division I and two from Division II as their last school. Throughout their collegiate careers, four of the transfers have spent time in junior college, three at D1 and two at D2. Among the four true freshman two played their prep careers in Texas and a pair spent their four years in Chicago, Ill.
Freddy Hicks,
Chris Mpaka and
Jordan Mizell lead the seven returning players from a season ago. Hicks led the team in points, rebounds and assists per game last season, playing in seven contests. Hicks is the Texans D1 era leader in rebounds (441), total points (1025), field goals made (300), field goals attempted (724), free throws made (363) and free throws attempted (494).
Chris Mpaka led the team last season in total rebounds and blocks. His 51 blocks ranked just outside the top 50 in the nation and in the top three in the WAC. He was one blocky shy of tying KiAndre Gaddy's D1 era single season block record (52). Mizell was a top 20 rebounder in the league a season ago and ranked among the top two freshman in the league in rebounds and free throw percentage and topped WAC freshman in steals (42).
Two of the nation's best college basketball scorers across the past two seasons have found their new home at Tarleton State.
Cam McDowell and
Dior Johnson have ranked in the top two in all of D2 and JUCO, respectively. Last season,
Cam McDowell's 23.7 points per game at Northwest Oklahoma State was second in all of D2 and third among all divisions of men's CBB. McDowell scored in double figures 24 times, at least 20 points in 23 games, and 30 or more in 11 contests. He tied for the 8th most points by a D2 player in a single game (44) and was one of four D2 players to score 41 or more points in multiple games. Two seasons ago,
Dior Johnson led all of JUCO with 29.7 points per game. Johnson was named NJCAA D1 National Player of the Week after a 58-point performance against Howard (2/15). He scored 40+ in six games and 50+ twice. he scored in double digits in all 21 games played.
The Texans will play four Power Four conference teams this season. Tarleton State will open the season for the second straight year at SMU. Once again, the Texans will also travel for the second year in a row to Baylor (Nov. 14). For the first time in program history, the Texans will head to Cincinnati and LSU. The Texans will head to Baton Rouge for LSU's season opener on Nov. 5. TSU will head to Cincinnati for their first contest in the state of Ohio in program history the Monday after Thanksgiving.
The Texans were 1-1 in their pair of exhibition home games. Tarleton State fell to TCU, 88-54 in their first ever game in their new home, the brand new EECU Center.
Dior Johnson led the squad with 17 points. In their second contest, the Texans knocked off East Texas A&M, 61-50.
Cam McDowell posted a game-best 16 points with a pair of three-pointers.
After their season opener, the Texans will continue its opening road trip with just a day of rest in between. Tarleton State will head to Baton Rouge, La. To take on LSU for the first meeting between the two programs. It will be the season opener for the Tigers with tip off slated at 7 p.m. at the Maravich Center.
