STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State Men's Basketball returns home to defend its perfect EECU Center record opening the New Year with a three-game homestand beginning with Utah Valley on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the EECU Center.

The Texans (10-4 overall, 1-0 WAC) enter the New Year on a five-game winning streak, including their WAC Opener against UT Arlington on Monday, 69-63. The Purple and White's winning streak is the second longest active streak in the WAC only behind Utah Valley's (11-3, 1-0) six-game streak of their own.

The game is sponsored by Texas Health and will be streamed on ESPN+ with Byron Anderson and Scott Garner on the call. Kyle Crews will have the radio call on 90.5 KTRL and online on the Tarleton Sports Radio Network. For the most up to date highlights, news and updates follow @tarletonmbb on Instagram and X.

As part of Tarleton State's "Holiday Deals" ticket offer,  Texans are offering a "222" deal, where fans can purchase two tickets to the game and receive two free drinks and two free popcorn. Fans need to use the promo code 222 upon purchase to receive the free items at the game.

Cam McDowell has scored 10 or more in six of his last seven games. He has also tallied at least 20 points in four of his last five. Most recently, he led the Texans in scoring for the third time this season with 23 at UTA to begin WAC play. The senior scorer has been on a tear as of late, averaging 18.4 points per game in his last seven appearances. His only game under 10 points was a three-minute performance in which he scored two points against FAMU. Omitting that game, he is averaging 21.2 points per game in his last six games in which he has played five or more minutes. He had three consecutive 20+ games against Cameron, Howard Payne, and MVSU. McDowell broke out with 19 points all in the second half against Rice in a 90-74 victory. He then scored 13 all off the bench and in the second half against Midwestern State in a 67-57 win.

Former Maverick, Kade Douglas hit a crucial three-pointer with 6:48 to go in the game to put the Texans up five and push the momentum back to the Purple and White. With under a minute remaining and the Texans leading 64-63, Douglas grabbed a critical offensive board to keep the Texans in possession. Later on that possession, in his first game back to the lineup after missing the last 12, DJ Dormu buried a mid-range jumper just oof the elbow to lift the Texans up to a three-point lead with 36 ticks left. Dormu later secured a defensive board and made a free throw to seal the game with 10 seconds left in the game.

So far this season the Texans are 7-0 at home in their brand new arena. The Texans are averaging 85.0 points per game, 24.9 points more than their opponent in home games. The Texans are also averaging seven more forced turnovers than their opponents in the EECU Center this season. Tarleton State was one of 12 non-Power Four Teams to finish their non-conference slate undefeated with at least seven wins. The last time the Texans won their first five home games of the season was the 2022-23 season when they won the first 10.  In the past 20 years, the Texans have won at least their first 5, seven times, making this season the eight. The Texans were a perfect 14-0 in 2005-06 and 15-0 in 2010-11. The Texans won their first 13 in the 2013-14 season and 12 in the 2006-07 season. The Texans won each of the first 10 in 2014-15 and '16-'17.  TSU won the first five in 2007-08.

Tarleton State is averaging 19.5 forced turnovers per game, the most in the NCAA. Last season the Texans finished second in the category. So far this season, the Purple and White have forced at least 20 turnovers in six games. The Texans are also fourth in the nation in steals per game averaging 11.3. The squad has snagged double-digit steals in seven of the last eight contests and in each of the last five.

Tarleton State has shot over 50 percent from the floor in 48 games in its Division I era. The Texans are 2-0 when shooting over 60 percent from the floor. So far this season, the Purple and White are 6-1 when shooting 50 percent or better.

Utah Valley seems to be the frontrunner in the WAC entering conference play ranked in the top 60 in the NET, the highest WAC program. The Wolverines did not play a Power Four opponent in their non-conference slate, but they did go 3-0 in the Cancun Challenge, including a 79-72 victory over perennial mid-major powerhouse UC Irvine. The Wolverines are in the top 10 in the NCAA in assists per game (7th) and blocks per game (9th). Floor general, Trevan Leonhardt is fourth in the NCAA with 96 total assists. Jackson Holcombe leads the WAC in double-doubles (5), field goal percentage (52.1) and defensive rebounds per game (5.3).

The Texans lone victory against the Wolverines at home came in 2023, a 19-point victory handing UVU one of its three conference losses that season as the regular season champions. It will mark the first game between the two programs in the EECU Center. UVU will return for its second time in the Ville on Jan. 29. The Texans are 3-1 against the Wolverines when they score 70 or more points. Utah Valley has won five of its seven total by 10 or more. Tarleton State's only game ever played on New Year's Day was on the road at Utah Valley in 2022.
 
Tarleton State will continue its three-game WAC homestand on Saturday against California Baptist. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. in the EECU Center. The Texans will close the homestand with their lone game of next week on Thursday against Abilene Christian at 7 p.m.