The Teams: Tarleton State Texans (1-1) vs. UT Dallas Comets (0-0)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Stadium: EECU Center (8,000)
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ (Byron Anderson, John-Stewart Gordon, Sabrina Borg)
Radio: Tarleton Sports Network on 90.5 FM (Kyle Crews)
Game Sponsor: First Baptist Church of Stephenville

Game Promotions

• Camo Out Night, hunting season themed night.
• Fan are encouraged to wear camo and will be treated to hunting season themed giveaways

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 recorded his first career collegiate double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds against Cameron in the season opener.
• The Texans improved to 28-1 in season openers at home and 2-0 in the D1 era with an 86-60 victory over Cameron on Monday.
• 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. 
• The Texans are returning less than 15 percent of their production in points, assists, and rebounds and only 17 percent of minutes played from last year.
• 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 8 players that played at multiple high schools during their prep careers, with five taking home state titles.
• 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

• UT Dallas opens its season with the Texans as an exhibition game for the Comets, but a regular season contest for the Texans.
• The Comets competed at the D2 level season after spending 26 years as a D3 program. 
• They joined the LSC last season but were not a full-fledged member. On July 10, 2026 UTD is now a full-fledged D2 member and eligible for postseason play.

3 with 15+ Points

• Three Texans scored 15+ for the first time this season and the third time in the past two years.
• On Friday in San Diego, TJ Cope led the way with 20 while Leroy Kelly IV scored 19 and Franck Emmou added 17.
• The last time the Texans had at least three score 15+ was 12/3/25 against Howard Payne. 
• The last time the Texans had three score 15 or more against a D1 was at Rice 11/20/25 where four scored at least 15.

Six blocks for Josh

• Josh Hayes notched six blocks in nine minutes in his Texan debut at San Diego (11/6).
• After the first week of the season, Hayes is one of just 10 players to record at least six blocks in a single game.
• He is the only member of the UAC to record six blocks in a game, with no one else recording more than three.
• Hayes ranks 11th in the NCAA in total blocks with six after the first week of the season. He will not be eligible to be ranked in the NCAA in blocks per game until he has played in 75 percent of the Texans' contests, which would mean he would have to play in each of the next two games.

Double-double for Leroy

• Leroy Kelly IV notched his first career collegiate double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Cameron.
• Kelly IV set a new career high with 10 boards, surpassing his best from last season at eight.
• 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 the only current rostered Texan to have a double-double for the Purple and White in their careers.

Blackwell named Preseason All-UAC

• Caleb Blackwell became the third Texan to be named to an all-conference preseason team in the Division I era.
• Blackwell joins Hicks (2-time recipient) and Montre Gipson (2021-22).
• Blackwell had not received D1 conference honors in his collegiate career, but was named a First Team All-Conference and All-Region selection during his time at South Plains College as well as 2nd Team NJCAA All-American. 

Next Up

• Tarleton State will continue their two-game home stand in the EECU Center on Friday against Alcorn State at 7 p.m.
• The Texans will then hit the road for four-straight games, so don't miss your chance to see the Texans.
• The game will be streamed on ESPN+