Men's Basketball | 1/28/2025 3:00:00 PM

Game #21
Who | Utah Tech (6-14, 2-3 WAC) at Tarleton State (8-13, 3-3 WAC)
When | Thursday, Jan. 30 – 6 p.m. MT
Where | Wisdom Gym – St. George, Utah
Broadcast | ESPN+ / 99.5 The Fan Sports Network
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers + #WACmbb

SCOUTING THE TEXANS
Tarleton State enters Thursday's contest with a 8-13 overall record sitting in a tie for third in the WAC with a 3-3 mark alongside California Baptist and Seattle U.

The Texans, who are 6-1 at home this season, have WAC wins over UT Arlington (77-74), Southern Utah (74-66) & California Baptist (67-57) while falling to the Trailblazers, Grand Canyon and Abilene Christian.

Non-conference action saw the Texans earn wins over Tabor College (Kan.), Hofstra, Dallas Christian, Howard Payne and Florida A&M.

The Texans lead the WAC and rank second in the nation in turnovers per game (17.48), while checking in second in three-point percentage (34.6), steals per game (9.9) & free throw percentage (73.9).

Tarleton also ranks third in the WAC in free throws made per game (15.8) and fourth in blocks per game (3.4) and free throw attempts per game (21.3).

Individually, sophomore guard Bubu Benjamin ranks fourth in the WAC in scoring averaging 15.2 points per game while leading the WAC in minutes per game (36:07).

Junior forward Chris Mpaka leads the team averaging 5.3 rebounds per game while being a force defensively sitting third in the WAC in total blocks (33) and fourth in blocks per game (1.57).

Senior guard Freddy Hicks, a preseason All-WAC selection, has returned from injury to play in the last three games averaging 10.3 points per game and 2.3 rebounds per contest.

SERIES HISTORY VS. TARLETON STATE
This will be Utah Tech's ninth meeting against Tarleton State with the Texans leading the series, 6-2.

The Trailblazers earned their first win in their last six meetings against Tarleton State just over two weeks ago defeating the Texans, 58-54 in St. George on Jan. 11 at Burns Arena.

Utah Tech's last trip to Stephenville came on Jan. 27, 2024 with the Trailblazers falling 86-68. 

Overall, UT is 0-2 on the road against Tarleton State also falling by a slim 74-72 margin on Jan. 26, 2023.

LAST TIME OUT
The Trailblazers saw their four-game home winning streak come to an end last Saturday night falling 79-66 at home to Grand Canyon.

Utah Tech was led by the sixth double-double of the season from Beon Riley, who finished with a team-leading 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Hakim Byrd chipped in 11 points while Madiba Owona came off the bench adding eight points and dished out a career-high four assists.

Getting off to a slow start, Grand Canyon jumped out to an early 9-3 lead before a layup from Riley made it a four-point contest.

A 9-0 run for the Lopes pushed their lead to 18-5, but a quick 6-2 run for the Trailblazers saw buckets from Riley, Misic and Owona that cut GCU's lead to 20-11.

With the Lopes opening back up a 16-point lead with a 10-3 run, the Trailblazers ended the half with seven of the final 11 points of the half as a three-pointer at the buzzer by Byrd was called off as GCU led 34-21 at the break.

The first five minutes of the second half saw the Lopes open up a 51-28 lead and extended it to a 28-point lead (72-44) with 7:01 left to play.

Continuing to fight until the final whistle, the Trailblazers outscored the Lopes, 22-7 over the final seven minutes as a final dunk by Owona tallied the final basket of the night for UT.

WHERE THE BLAZERS RANK IN THE WAC/NCAA
Utah Tech checks in second in the WAC in three point attempts per game (22.8) & three point percentage defense (31.2) while ranking third in turnovers per game (12.0), assist/turnover ratio (1.12) & three pointers made per game (7.3). 

Individually, Gonsalves ranks second in the WAC in three-pointers made (47) amd third in three-pointers made per game (2.35) and minutes per game (34:07).

Riley ranks fifth in field goal percentage (48.9) and is sixth in points per game (14.9) while Samuel Ariybi is sixth in blocks per game (1.26) & blocks (24).

GONSALVES AMONG TOP 10 IN CAREER MARKS
Gonsalves sits seventh all-time in career points with 1,058. Only 88 points shy of reaching the top five mark, if Gonsalves averages his scoring average of 14 points per game for the remainder of the season, he'll move up into third place (Hunter Schofield - 1,223).

In addition, Gonsalves ranks tied for second in career games played (114), fourth in steals (115) & starts (80), sixth in field goal attempts (829) & field goals made (363) & seventh in free throw percentage (78.7).

GONSALVES STREAK COMES TO AN END
Gonsalves was held without a three-pointer for the first time all season against Grand Canyon last Saturday.

Snapping his made three-pointer streak at 31 games, it was his first game with a triple since Jan. 25, 2024 at Abilene Christian.

Overall in 114 games played, Gonsalves has hit a three-pointer in 88 contests, including 46 out of 51 over the last two seasons.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Riley notched his sixth double-double of the season against GCU and it was his first since Dec. 19, 2024 against South Dakota.

Overall, his six double-double rank second in the WAC and 52nd nationally.

STANDOUTS FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
Byrd and Gonsalves have been consistent all season from the free throw line.

Byrd has connected on 36-of-40 from the line hitting 90.0 percent while Gonsalves has sank 43-of-48 for a 89.6 percent clip.

Gonsalves has hit his last 26 straight free throw attempts dating back to his first attempt against Whittier on Dec. 16.

His current streak currently ranks in a tie for third behind 31 straight from Dantwan Grimes from Tarleton State, Sean Newman Jr. (27-Louisiana Tech) & Jared Fry (26-Stony Brook).

The Trailblazers got to the free throw line a season-high 32 times at Seattle U on Jan. 16 and are 3-7 this season when attempting over 20 free throws in a game.

DOUBLE FIGURES 
Gonsalves has reached double figures in 15 of 20 contests, including seven of his last nine.

Riley (12), Justin Bieker (7), Ariyibi (7), Byrd (5), Britton Berrett (3) & Tennessee Rainwater (2) have also recorded multiple double digit contests this season.

SCORING/REBOUNDING LEADERS
Gonsalves has led the team in scoring in eight games followed by Riley with six along with Bieker with three, Rainwater & Byrd in a pair of games and Stone Hutchings in one.

On the rebounding side, Riley has led or tied for the team lead in 12 contests followed by Samuel Ariyibi with six, Rainwater with two and Dallin Grant with one.

SEASONED VETERAN
Head coach Jon Judkins is in his 20th season at Utah Tech this season sporting a 337-217 (.608) overall record and a 317-205 (.607) mark in NCAA play.

Only nine current Division I coaches have been at their schools longer - Greg Kampe (41st season at Oakland), Tom Izzo (30-Michigan St.), Mark Few (26-Gonzaga), James Jones (26-Yale), Randy Bennett (26-Saint Mary's), Leonard Hamilton (23-Florida St.), Scott Drew (22-Baylor), Bill Self (22-Kansas) & Gary Manchel (22-Mercyhurst).

WHAT'S NEXT
The Trailblazers close out the road trip on Saturday afternoon traveling to UT Arlington (9-11, 2-4 WAC) for a 1 p.m. MT contest at College Park Center.