Orem, Utah – Tarleton State Men's Basketball continues its road trip to Utah Valley for a 3 p.m. CT matinee contest on Saturday afternoon at the UCCU Center.
 
The Texans (10-14 overall, 5-4 WAC) are currently the third-best team in the conference. Utah Valley (16-7, 8-1) tops the league a half game ahead of Grand Canyon, UVU's lone loss in WAC play.
 
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Brandon Crow, Josh Kallunki, Michael Goodkind on the air. Kyle Crews will have the call on the Tarleton Sports Radio Network. Live stats will be provided by StatBroadcast available on tarletonsports.com. Follow @tarletonmbb on Instagram, X and Facebook for live updates, highlights and content.
 
Every squad under coach Gillispie is very defense oriented, and this year's crew is no different. Tarleton ranks third in the nation in forced turnovers per game, averaging 17.1 to lead the WAC. UTEP leads the nation averaging 17.68 per game. The Purple and White have forced at least 20 turnovers in seven games this season. Tarleton has forced double-digit turnovers in all but one game this season (11/30 vs. Hofstra). The Texans rank eighth in the nation and are second in the league averaging 9.9 steals per contest. The Purple and White have tallied at least 10 steals in 12 games this season and in each of the past three.
 
The Texans are 21-10 in the month of February during their D1 era. Last year, TSU was 8-0 in the month of February, part of their 11-game winning streak. The Purple and White won their last 10 games in February before their loss to Seattle on Thursday.
 
The Texans have four players in the top seven for steals per game in conference play. Also, three of the top four rep Tarleton State. Bubu Benjamin is the conference leader in steals per game in WAC play, averaging 2.11 per contest. Izzy Miles is second (1.89). Jordan Mizell and Dantwan Grimes are tied for fifth with 1.78 per game.
 
Mizell notched six assists last Saturday, the second time he has accomplished the feat this season. Only two other teammates, Marty Silvera and Grimes have notched at least six in a game this season. Mizell also scored in double figures for the second time in the last three contests.
 
Benjamin and Chris Mpaka are the only Texans to record a double-double this season. Benjamin and Mpaka have each racked up three, tied for the seventh most in the league. Tarleton is one of three teams to have multiple players record at least three double-doubles this season joining California Baptist, GCU. Benjamin notched his third double-double with a 17-point, 11-board effort against Florida A&M (12/29). Mpaka set new career highs with 19 points and 12 boards en route to his second double-double of the season against Howard Payne.
 
The Texans pulled off one of their biggest comebacks a season ago in Orem to win, 72-61. Tarleton trailed at the half by 15, before a comeback for the ages commenced in the UCCU Center. TSU outscored the Wolverines, 49-23 in the second half. The Texans shot 56.3 percent from the floor in the second half and 62.3 percent from three-point land.
Utah Valley leads the all-time series, 5-3. The Texans are 1-1 against current UVU head coach Todd Phillips. The Wolverines are 4-2 against Texan head coach, Billy Gillispie. In Orem, the series is tied at 2.
 
Head coach Billy Gillispie notched his 200th career victory on Thursday night against Utah Tech. Gillispie has accumulated his second most victories in his career at Tarleton with 52. He registered 70 wins during his three seasons at Texas A&M. During his career he has posted a 142-49 record, a .743 winning percentage at home. He has posted six winning seasons and five seasons with at least 20 wins. He is 3-4 in the NCAA Tournament. Gillispie became the 159th active head coach with at least 200 career victories.  Coach Gillispie is the fifth active WAC coach to reach the 200-mark.
 
Tarleton State will return home for a pair of contests in Stephenville. The Texans will play four of their final six games at home, a place where they are undefeated in WAC play. Tarleton State will host Grand Canyon on Thursday night at 7 p.m. CT in which it will be a Purple Out with early-arriving fans receiving free Purple t-shirts. The Texans will host Seattle U on Saturday night to end the week.