LAST TIME OUT
 
The Patriots last week battled in a pair of close games against Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M. Against the Greyhounds, the Patriots hung tough and were tied with 9:49 to play, but a late run from Eastern New Mexico allowed them to pull away. Against the Buffs, the Patriots cut the lead down to just five points on three separate occasions in the final 10 minutes, but they were unable to get any closer and would eventually fall 79-71.
 
LSC UPDATE
 
The top eight teams in the final LSC standings will qualify for the Lone Star Conference tournament and the Patriots currently sit in 12^th. However, the Patriots are just two and a half games outside of ninth and just three games outside of seventh. In the back half of the season the Patriots will face six teams that are ahead of them in the LSC standings, fully putting them in control of their own destiny.


PATRIOTS NOTES AND TRENDS

• UT Tyler is 7-12 on the season and 4-9 in LSC play.
• The Patriots have now surpassed their win total from the 2023-24 season. One of those is a win over Regis, which doubles as an in-region victory and a win over the team picked third in the preseason RMAC poll.
• Head coach Tim Moser is in his second season as head coach of the program. Moser returns to the men's side of the collegiate game after serving as the Associate Head Coach for a remarkable turnaround within the UT Tyler women's basketball program.  As a head coach, Moser holds a 520-211 career record and has won 13 conference championships en route to 12 conference or region coach of the year accolades. Combined with his totals as an assistant coach, Moser has coached 20 conference championship teams during his storied career. He has served as head coach on the men's side at Eastern Wyoming College from 2018-2021 and at Otero Junior College from 1998-2005. He went 150-33 (.828) over six seasons as head coach of the women's side at Alaska-Anchorage from 2006-12. 
• As we reach the midpoint of the season, the Patriots are putting together a dominant defense at the national level. They rank 21^st nationally in field goal percentage defense, 20^th in three point percentage defense, 37^th in scoring defense, and 44^th in blocks per game.
• Individually, Dontrell Hewlett ranks inside the top 12 in the LSC in assist/turnover ratio (10^th), total assists (12^th) and assists per game (11^th). Sam Phipps ranks 5^th in both blocks and blocks per game and also ranks 6^th in offensive rebounds per game.

 
AGGIES NOTES AND TRENDS

• Cameron heads into the week at 6-13 overall and 3-10 in LSC play, and they are currently on a four game skid.
• As a team the Aggies are scoring 75.4 points per game on 44% shooting and 33% from beyond the arc. Their opponents are scoring 79.1 points per game on 46% shooting and 34% from beyond the arc.
• They are led on offense by Aaron Jacob who is scoring 15 points per game on 50% shooting from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. He is second on the team in both rebounds and blocks and is the team leader in three pointers.
• Head coach Kevin O'Connor is in his third season with the program. He has posted a record of 28-49 over those three seasons.
• In the most recent matchup earlier this season, Cameron used an early run in the second half and 18 made free throws to outpace the Patriots and take an 84-71 win.

 
EAGLES NOTES AND TRENDS

• Oklahoma Christian heads into this week at 6-12 overall and 3-10 in LSC play. They are currently on a three game losing streak, with their most recent win coming against St. Edward's.
• The Eagles are scoring 72.7 points per game on 45% shooting and 37% from deep. Their opponents are scoring 78.4 points per game on 45% shooting and 36% from beyond the arc.
• The Eagles are led on offense by Keyondre Young. Young is averaging 15.4 points per game on 41% shooting and 42% from deep. He also leads the team in rebounds and is second on the team in steals so far.
• The program is led by head coach Kendre Talley, who is in his sixth season. He holds a career record of 52-93, all with the Eagles.
• In the previous matchup this season, the Patriots got a big team effort as six different players scored in double figures to help lead them to a 79-75 win.