Who | Utah Tech (7-13, 3-6 WAC) vs UTRGV (6-14, 2-7 WAC)
When | Thursday, Feb. 1 / 7 p.m.
Where | Burns Arena / St. George, Utah
Broadcast | ESPN+ / 99.5 The Fan Sports Network
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UniteTheFamily / #IntoTheStorm
 
Scouting the Vaqueros
With a 6-14 record this season, UTRGV has posted wins over Seattle U and Utah Valley during conference play and is coming off a loss to California Baptist on Thursday. Though the team has been effective at home – posting a 5-5 record – the road has been a struggle at times, with just one win in eight road contests. Elijah Elliott has proven himself as one of the WAC's leading scorers this season, posting 15.3 points per game, while the 6-1 guard has scored 20 or more points in each of his last two appearances.
 
Utah Tech has an advantage in the all-time series, falling in the team's first two games before rattling off three-straight series victories, sweeping the series last year. The last meeting in St. George finished as an 81-66 Trailblazer victory on Dec. 29, 2022, a game in which Tanner Christensen paired 10 points with six rebounds while Noa Gonsalves scored six points.
 
Last Game
UT fell in its last game to the Tarleton State Texans on Saturday. The triple was falling early and often for Utah Tech, using the deep ball to fuel a 10-2 run that put the team ahead by seven entering the first half's under-12 media timeout. Tarleton would respond with a 21-7 run that put TSU ahead by 12 going into halftime. The Texans' offensive momentum continued into the second half, and though Utah Tech would rattle off another run to cut into the deficit, it was not enough as Tarleton took the victory.
 
Sniper
After shooting 40.1% from range last season, Noa Gonsalves has continued to be a threat from long distance even with an increased usage rate. The Lehi, Utah, native has increased his scoring average from 8.7 points per game last season to 12.0 this year and led the team in scoring against Tarleton, pouring in 17 points on 7-12 shooting (2-4 3PT). Entering Thursday's game against UTRGV, Gonsalves sits at an even 40.0% from three-point range.

Scorer
With his ninth double-digit scoring game of the season, Jaylen Searles finished Saturday's game with 16 points, five rebounds and two assists. Having hit another triple int he game, he now ranks second on the team in made three-pointers with 24, and has made at least one in 13 separate games this season.

Currently in his first year as a Trailblazer, the 6-8 Searls has averages of 8.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Homecoming
Texas native Aric Demings made his return to the starting five over the weekend, posting averages of 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals across 23.5 minutes in those two starts. Against the Texans on Saturday he finished with eight points and four boards while hitting one shot from deep. A true freshman from Desoto, Texas, Demings is one of six Trailblazers currently averaging at least eight points per game thanks to a line of 8.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. 
 
Career-High
Angelo Kambala led the reserve unit in minutes played during Saturday's game and was a consistent threat on the offensive end. He finished with a career-high 14 points on 4-8 shooting, hitting 2-5 from deep and 4-6 at the line, while adding two rebounds and two assists. A true freshman from Las Vegas, Nev., Kambala played sparingly during the early portion of the season but has worked his way into the rotation, playing in nine of the team's last 10 games.
 
Consistency
Caleb Stearman's strong run of play continued against the Texans on Saturday, as the 6-7 Las Vegas native finished with seven points and six rebounds in 19 minutes of action while shooting a perfect 2-2 from the field, 1-1 from deep and 2-2 at the line. Those six boards tied a career-high for single game rebounds - something that he's done in three of his last four appearances - while the perfect shooting night bumped his season averages to 57.6% from the field, 37.5% from deep and 78.9% at the line.

Across 9.2 minutes played, he's averaging 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game this season, appearing off the bench in 18 of the team's 20 contests.
 
How They Rank
Among all players in the WAC, Tanner Christensen's 6.8 rebounds per game ranks eighth-highest... Stearman's 57.6% from the field is ninth among players who have recorded 10 or more field goal attempts this season... Gonsalves' 42 made triples this season ranks third... Christensen (1.85) and Hamed Olayinka (1.80) rank second and third in average blocked shots... Utah Tech's team field goal percentage of 43.7 is sixth out of 11 teams... the team's 34.3% connection rate on triples leads the WAC.
 
What's Next
Utah Tech hosts UT Arlington on Saturday before welcoming Southern Utah (Feb. 8) and California Baptist (Feb. 10) to Burns Arena for games next weekend.