OREM — Utah Valley returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 1, opening a two-game Western Athletic Conference Texas road swing at Tarleton State. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. MT at the Texans' new EECU Center.
The Wolverines enter the matchup riding a six-game winning streak after opening WAC play with a 73–66 home win over preseason league favorite California Baptist on Monday night at the UCCU Center. Utah Valley improved to 11–3 overall and 1–0 in conference play with the victory, extending its home winning streak to 19 games, tied for the fifth-longest active home streak in the nation.
Utah Valley has been one of the most efficient teams in the country through the opening two months of the season, ranking seventh nationally in assists per game (20.6), ninth in blocks per game (6.2), 11th in field goal percentage (52.1), and 17th in scoring defense (64.1). The Wolverines also rank among the national leaders in effective field goal percentage, scoring margin, and steals per game, while checking in at No. 57 in the latest NCAA NET rankings and No. 83 in the KenPom ratings.
Redshirt sophomore forward Jackson Holcombe continues to anchor the Wolverines on both ends of the floor and was recently named to the 2025–26 Lou Henson Award Watch List. Holcombe leads Utah Valley at 16.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 58.8 percent from the field and is tied for first nationally with five double-doubles. Tyler Hendricks ranks seventh nationally in three-point percentage (50.7), while Trevan Leonhardt ranks 12th nationally in assists per game (6.9) and fourth nationally in total assists.
Tarleton State enters Thursday's contest with a 10–4 overall record and a 1–0 mark in WAC play after opening conference action with a 69–63 road win at UT Arlington on Monday night. The Texans are unbeaten at home this season and will play their first WAC home game at the new EECU Center.
The Texans average nearly 80 points per game and are one of the most disruptive defensive teams in the nation, ranking first nationally in turnovers forced per game and among the national leaders in steals. Tarleton State is led by Cam McDowell, who scored a game-high 23 points in the WAC opener, while Freddy Hicks and Dior Johnson provide additional scoring and defensive pressure.
Utah Valley holds a 7–3 advantage in the all-time series against Tarleton State, including wins in three straight meetings. The Wolverines earned a 71–66 road victory in the most recent matchup in Stephenville during the 2024–25 season.
Thursday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with Scott Garner and Byron Anderson on the call. Radio coverage will air on the Wolverine Sports Network/ESPN The Fan, with Jim McCulloch calling the game from Texas and Brice Larson anchoring pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage from the studio in Utah.
