The Teams: Tarleton State Texans (2-1) vs. Alcorn State Braves (0-3)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
When: Friday, Nov. 13
Stadium: EECU Center (8,000)
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (John Liddle, Clayton Neville)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM (Kyle Crews)
Game Sponsor: Barefoot Campus Outfitter

Opening tips

• Eric Haut was hired to be the second Tarleton State Men's Basketball Coach in the Division I era on March 12, 2026.
• The Texans had three score 15+ against San Diego for the first time since 12/3/25.
• Josh Hayes is 11th in the NCAA and is 1 of 10 to record 6 blocks in a game this year.
• Caleb Blackwell named Preseason All-UAC, third Texan in D1 era to earn preseason all-conference honors.
• Leroy Kelly IV has recorded double-doubles in back-to-back home games. He totaled 13 pts and 10 rebs in the season opener and 16 pts and 12 rebs against UT Dallas. It also marks his first two collegiate games with 10+ rebounds.
• Brett Freeman scored a season-best 21 points against UT Dallas and is one of two Texans this season to score at least 20 joining TJ Cope.
• Hayes tied the Texans D1 era offensive rebounds in a single game record with nine against UT Dallas.
• TJ Cope recorded his second-straight game in double figures with 20 points at USD
• The Texans 16-man roster features 12 newcomers and 4 returning players from the 2025-26 roster. 11 were on a D1 roster last season.
• The Texans have their oldest roster in the D1 era, holding 11 players listed as seniors or 5th years playing in their last or second to last collegiate season.
• Among the 12 newcomers, 11 come via the transfer portal and just 1 comes fro graduating high school in 2026. The Texans are one of 11 D1 programs to have one or less 2026 HS grad on their roster this season. 
• In their inaugural season at the EECU Center, the Texans went 10-6, marking their fifth-straight season with at least 10 home wins.
• The Texans have just four players from the state of Texas on their roster, the fewest in the Division I era.
• The Texans won their second season opener at home in the D1 era with an 86-60 victory vs. Cameron to improve to 28-1 in season openers at home.

About the matchup

• It marks the first MBB meeting between Alcorn State and Tarleton State.
• The Texans are 4-0 in program history against the current SWAC with three of the four meetings coming in Stephenville.
• Alcorn State will play eight Power 4 opponents all on the road in part of their 13 road games in their 14-game non-conference slate.

Friday the 13th

• The Texans are 2-2 since 1988 on Friday the 13th games, winning their last two games.
• This will mark the third Friday the 13th game played by Texans in November with the others coming once on January and once in March.
• The last time the Texans played on Friday the 13th was Nov. 13, 2015 in a 75-66 win against UC-Colorado Springs. It marks the only one in the 21st century.
• The Texans first two Friday the 13th games resulted in losses. the first came to McMurry on the road on Jan 13, 1989 and the second came on March 13th, 1992 in a 71-59 loss to Northwestern (Iowa). 
• Currently, the Purple and White are 2-0 in their last two meetings knocking off Oklahoma Panhandle State, 59-44 on Nov. 13, 1992 before the victory over UC-Colorado Springs.

Freeman scores season-high 21 points

• Brett Freeman posted a season-high 21 points in the third game of the season for the Texans.
• He shot seven-for-13 from the floor including three-for-six from deep.
• Freeman also added a four-for-five line at the free throw line.
• Freeman is the second Texan to score at least 20 points this season joining TJ Cope who recorded 20 at San Diego. 

Hayes ties D1 era off rebound record

• In his first home game as a Texan, Josh Hayes not only recorded his first double-double but also tied the Texans' D1 era record for offensive rebounds in a single game.
• Hayes pulled down 12 boards, with 9 coming on the offensive end. That matches KiAndre Gaddy's mark he reached twice during the 2023-24 season.
• The senior also notched his first double-double as a Texan scoring 14 points. It sets a new Texan high for him surpassing his six point effort in his Texan debut at San Diego.

Make it two Double-doubles for Leroy

• For the second-straight home game, Leroy Kelly IV notched a double-double.
• In each of the first two home games, he has set a new rebounding career best with 10 in the season opener and 12 against Alcorn State.
• Kelly IV posted 16 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals against UT Dallas.
• Leroy Kelly IV notched his first career collegiate double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Cameron.
• In his freshman campaign, Kelly IV scored in double-figures in four contests, with a season-high and team-best 18 against Florida A&M.
• The sophomore is one of two Texans to have a double-double for the Purple and White this season.

About the Matchup

• It marks the first MBB meeting between Alcorn State and Tarleton State.
• The Texans are 4-0 in program history against the current SWAC with three of the four meetings coming in Stephenville.
• Alcorn State will play eight Power 4 opponents all on the road in part of their 13 road games in their 14-game non-conference slate.

Texans vs. the SWAC

• Tarleton State is 4-0 overall and 3-0 in Stephenville in program history against current members of the SWAC.
• Last season the Texans went 2-0 with a home win against Florida A&M and a win on the road at Mississippi Valley State.
• In 2024-25, the Texans also knocked off Florida A&M at home, their most common SWAC opponent.
• In 2023-24, The Texans knocked off Texas Southern in the first game of the CIT.

Next Up

• Tarleton State Men's Basketball will begin their four-game road trip with a pair of contests next week.
• The Texans will start the week on Monday night at Drake with a 6:30 p.m. tip-off on ESPN+.
• The Purple and White will then head to USC for a Thursday night tilt at 8 pm PT / 10 pm CT on Big Ten Network.