| Match Info |
Opponent Info |
UT Tyler @ West Texas A&M
UTT: 9-7, 3-7 LSC | WTAMU: 14-6, 6-4 LSC
Thursday, Jan. 29th | 7:30 p.m.
Canyon, Texas | First United Bank Center |
 |
ROSTER |
SCHEDULE |
STATS |
UT Tyler @ #18 Eastern New Mexico
UTT: 9-7, 3-7 LSC | #18 ENMU: 15-3, 8-2 LSC
Saturday, Jan. 31st | 4:00 p.m. CT
Portales, New Mexico | Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena |
 |
ROSTER |
SCHEDULE |
STATS |
PATRIOTS NOTES AND TRENDS
- UT Tyler finished the 2024–25 season 8–20 overall and 5–17 in Lone Star Conference play, but the Patriots were competitive throughout the year with 12 games decided by 10 points or fewer.
- Last season the Patriots went 5–10 on their home floor, 3–8 on the road, and 0–2 at neutral sites. UT Tyler finished non-conference play with a 3–3 record.
- Of the 12 games decided by 10 points or fewer, the Patriots were within a single possession in the final minutes in a handful of those contests and held second-half leads in several.
- UT Tyler returns four athletes from last year, including LSC Male Athletic Performance Athlete of the Year Sam Phipps, along with Hudson Anderson, Patrick Carr, and Mate Kapanadze.
- The Patriots add four junior college transfers—Chris Carpenter, Xavier Williams, Sean Emfinger, and Kyle Morgan—each arriving from strong JUCO programs and bringing toughness, size, and proven winning habits.
- Transfer guard Boston Caldwell joins the Patriots after producing at both the junior college and Division III levels and is expected to contribute immediately.
- A strong group of Australian newcomers also joins the roster, including freshmen Noah Suarjaya, Heath Tenner, and Spencer Gaze, along with Greg Fowlds and Jacob Bell. The group is expected to boost the team's shooting, depth, and overall skill level.
- The Patriots are 9-7 to start the year while shooting 47% from the field and 32% from deep while grabbing 39 rebounds per game and forcing 13.2 turnovers per game.
- Sean Emfinger leads the Patriots with 11.8 points per game on 57.3% shooting and continues to be one of the team's top perimeter threat with 15 threes at a 39.5% clip. Sam Phipps controls the interior with 7.8 rebounds per game and a team-best 23 blocks and adding 24 steals, while Xavier Williams steers the offense with a 49-to-33 assist-to-turnover ratio.
THE BUFFS
The Patriots face off with West Texas A&M on Thursday on the road in Canyon, Texas. They are 14-6 overall and 6-4 in LSC play where they have been ranked several times throughout the season. They have lost their last 3 matchups versus #5 Lubbock Christian, Midwestern State, and #19 Eastern New Mexico.
The Buffs are averaging 85.9 points per game on 44.4% shooting and 34.2% from deep. Their opponents are scoring 77.9 points per game on 48% from the floor and 34.7% from beyond the arc. Two players average double figures, led by Fontaine Williams at 19.7 points per game. He is shooting 46.5% while posting 43 assists, 24 steals, and 37 threes.
The all-time series between the two teams dates back to 2020, and it is in favor of the Buffs at 0-5, as they took the last matchup by a score of 79-71.
THE GREYHOUNDS
#18 Eastern New Mexico is 15-3 on the year and 8-2 in LSC play. They have won their last three matchups including a road win over #5 Lubbock Christian and a home win over then receiving votes West Texas A&M.
The Greyhounds are scoring 82.6 points per game while allowing 71.2 to their opponents. They shoot 49.8% from the floor and 32.9% from beyond the arc, while their opponents shoot 41.8% from the floor and 37.3% from deep. The Greyhounds have 5 players averaging double digit points, they are led by Jose Murillo, who is averaging 16.4 points per game on 64.5% shooting. Murillo leads the team in rebounding at 9.3 per game and also adds 13 steals and 27 blocks.
The Greyhounds are 3-2 in the all-time series that dates back to 2020. The Patriots have dropped the last three matchups including last years 87-75 lose.
