5 things to know about Texan basketball
BY Sydnie Grossnickle/Staff Writer
The Tarleton men’s basketball continues to make a name for itself in 2022. The Texans are halfway through their second NCAA DI season as a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) member.
Seasoned in college hoops, Billy Gillispie leads the Texans as head coach. Here are the top five things you should know:
- Record
After their Jan. 23 game against fellow WAC member University of Seattle, they have a 3-5 conference record. Texans are sitting at an 8-13 overall record.
- WAC Rankings
Guard Montre Gipson ranks No. 2 for average minutes played per game with 34.9. Gipson holds the No. 7 spot for field goals per game with 5.7-13.3.
Right behind Gipson, at No. 8 for field goals per game, is guard Tahj Small with 5.6-12.3.
Guard/forward Freddy Hicks ranks No. 5 for free throws per game with 3.6-4.5.
Gipson and Small also rank in the top 10 points per game with 15.4 and 14.9 respectively.
- Highlights
The Texans held a theme of perseverance during their non-conference games against Michigan and No. 2 Gonzaga. Both bouts were wire-to-wire in near-upset to these Power Five teams.
In their first meeting in almost five decades, Texans hailed victorious against new WAC foe Sam Houston State. The Texans passed Sam Houston with a season-high 59% clip from the field.
Tarleton stunned new WAC foe Stephen F. Austin in their overtime 77-71 win in the first meeting in 45 years. The Texans held the Lumberjacks scoreless for over a minute in a close game.
- Who to Watch
Guard and forward Freddy Hicks has started every game for the Texans. The 2021 WAC Freshman of the Year continues to impress. The Searcy, Arkansas native, has incredible shooting averages, including 78.9% from the free-throw line.
Guard Noah McDavid is the only starting freshman. The Dallas native has started in the last eight games. McDavid claimed WAC’s Freshman of the Week for Jan. 10. The guard is in the running for WAC’s Freshman of the Year, won last season by teammate Hicks.
Guard Tahj Small has become instrumental to the Texans. Hailing from Durham, North Carolina, Small holds the Texans’ best three-point shot percentage with 35.5%.
The senior also carries a 78.2% average from the free-throw line. Small claimed the WAC player of the week honor for Jan. 10.
Guard Montre Gipson is one of the best offensive players in the WAC. The DeSoto native is the team’s heart. His statistics impress time and time again, with a field goal percentage of 43% and a free throw percentage of 78.5%.
- Upcoming Games
Tarleton men’s basketball will travel to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Jan. 29 for a conference game.
The Texans will return home on Feb. 5 for another conference event against Chicago State University.
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