ACU and Tarleton set to renew rivalry Saturday night

ABILENE, Texas - ACU's men's basketball program will host a familiar foe on Saturday night as they host Tarleton State for the first time since the Wildcats made the transition to DI. The Wildcats are coming off a win over Howard Payne in their home opener and are 4-0 to start the season. The Texans come into the game 1-1 in their first season of DI competition under the helm of legendary coach, Billy Gillispie. The game is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday evening and will be streamed on ESPN+ and 98.1 The Ticket.  

FOLLOW THE GAME

SERIES HISTORY

Tarleton hold the 46-34 advantage in the series, but it has been lopsided in recent history. Since the 99-00 season, the Texans hold a 30-2 record and have won nine straight matchups. The two teams met for the first time in 1919 in the first-ever basketball game for the Wildcats, with the Texans coming away with a 22-19 victory. ACU last won in 2009 when they came away with a 73-70 win at home, but Tarleton has won the last nine meetings, the most recent a 75-70 overtime victory in Abilene. 

ACU STORYLINES

• The Wildcats are off to a 4-0 start, their best start since they went 7-0 to open the 2018-19 season. 
• Kolton Kohl has dominated the paint for ACU and has scored in double figures in each of the first four games. 
• ACU debuted at No. 24 in the College Insider Mid Major Poll after starting the season 3-0 in Florida.
• The Wildcats have played at least 10 players in each of their first four games, and have played all 15 of their athletes in two of the games.
• ACU's Emergency Response Team Thursday announced that its Teague Center capacity restrictions will remain in place through Dec. 25. Attendance is restricted to season ticket holders and team pass lists. No walk up or single-game sales are allowed. No complimentary admission for faculty and staff is allowed. A re-evaluation of the policy will take place prior to the Dec. 29 men's game vs. Dallas Christian.
  • Games impacted include: Dec. 12 vs. McMurry and Dec. 16 vs. Hardin-Simmons 

SCOUTING TARLETON

• Tarleton opened their season with a monster 103-48 win over Dallas Christian. 
• The Texans are coming off a near-upset of Texas A&M where they were tied with the Aggies with six minutes left to play. They ended up falling, 66-73 in College Station. 
• Montre' Gipson leads Tarleton in scoring averaging 15.5 points per game. 
• Tahj Small (12.5) and Konstantin Dotsenko (11.0) are each averaging double figure scoring as well. 
• The Texans are shooting 48 percent from the field through two games while holding opponents to under 35 percent shooting.