RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Tarleton State Men's Basketball closes its final road trip of the regular season at California Baptist on Saturday evening at 8 p.m. at the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Events Center.

The Texans (14-15 overall, 5-11 WAC) heads to Riverside for the second time this season to take on the Lancers (20-8, 10-5). The Texans won the first game of the series in Stephenville, 81-75 in overtime and dropped a one-point game in Riverside, 56-55. The Texans are 0-6 in Riverside and are searching for their first win in their final trip to CBU as members of the WAC.

The game will be streamed on ESPN+. 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.

Dior Johnson returned for the Texans on Thursday night at Utah Valley after missing eight-straight games with his last appearance on Jan. 21 at UT Arlington. Johnson led the Texans in scoring for the 11th time this season with his 11th 20+ scoring effort of the season. In the second half he ran off 11-straight Texan points. He took 20 shots or more for the fourth time this year. The junior has played eight games in the WAC this season and would lead the WAC with 24.4 points per game, if he had the qualifying amount of games played. Johnson has missed 12 games total this season with a four-game stretch earlier in the year.

For his first time as a Texan, Ocypher Owens recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds at Utah Valley (2/26). It marks the fifth of his D1 career with four coming during his second year at Le Moyne. He is the fourth different Texan to record a double-double this season and the second in back-to-back games. His 13 rebounds is tied for the second most by a Texan this season with Freddy Hicks. Hicks also has the most with 17.  Owens' mark also is the second most rebounds by a Texan in a WAC game only to Gaddy's 14 in 2023-24.

Hicks broke the Tarleton State D1 career assists record with a pair at Utah Valley on 2/26. Shakur Daniel was the first to reach 186 total assists. Hicks moved into second in the D1 era with 108 total steals after a three-steal night against ACU on 2/16. Hicks is the Texans D1 era career record holder in 11 different statistical categories.

Kaia Isaac has made seven threes in the last two games, shooting 58.3 percent from deep.  He made all three of his triples in the second half including a back-to-back pair to bring the Texans within one. Isaac became the fourth different Texan this season to make four triples against Utah Tech. The New Zealand native made four of eight from deep, the most attempted by a Texan this season. He joins Dior Johnson (2), Leroy Kelly IV and Kade Douglas with four made threes in a single game. Isaac is second on the team with 25 made from deep this season.

Jordan Mizell needs just seven more steals to total 100 in his Texan career. Only three Texans have reached the milestone in the D1 era in their career. He currently ranks fourth in the D1 era, just five from tying  Shakur Daniel (94).  He has already surpassed his total from last season of 42, currently recording 49 this season.

Tarleton State is averaging 18.03 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 eight games. The Texans are also second in the nation in steals per game averaging 10.7. The squad has snagged double digit steals in 14 of the last 18 contests. The Texans are also 13th in the nation with a +3.6 turnover margin.

After a 81-76 loss to Tarleton State on Jan. 3 to start the WAC slate, the Lancers ran off nine wins in a row. CBU dropped the next two contests, before a 12-point victory vs. UTA at home on Thursday night. The Lancers protect the rim, owning the fifth highest offensive boards per game (14.32) and 19th in total rebounds (40.64). Dominque Daniels enters the contest eighth with 22.2 points per game. Daniels Jr. also ranks in the top 20 in total field goals made 203. CBU has won their last 18-straight home games with their last loss on Feb. 6, 2025. The Lancers opened the season 7-0 before dropping five of their next eight. Head coach Rick Croy is in the 13th season at the helm of the Lancer program. Croy helped the Lancers make their transition from D2 to D1 beginning in 2018.
The Texans will return to Stephenville for their regular season finale against UT Arlington on Thursday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. with the five Texan seniors to be honored before the game in the EECU Center.