KINGSVILLE, Texas (Men's Basketball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (7-4, 0-2 LSC) returns to the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center as they open 2017 with a pair of Lone Star Conference games against system rivals. On January 5th, The Hogs will face Texas A&M University-Commerce (10-2, 3-1 LSC) at 7:30 p.m. and wrap-up the week on Saturday when they matchup against #9/#15 Tarleton State University (12-1, 4-0 LSC) at 2 p.m.

Live stats and stream will be available at javelinaathletics.com and will feature Kevin Piel on the call for the first time in the new year.

The Javelinas make their way back to their home floor with two strong offensive clubs coming to town. But that does not intimidate a team who sits second in the Lone Star Conference in scoring defense (65.5 PPG) and blocks per game (4.4), while having a +4.1 turnover margin that is good for third place. The Blue and Gold average 70.4 points on 41% shooting and outscore the opposition 413-377 in the second half. Sumpter leads the team in scoring with 15.1 points per game and Neal follows with 10.4 PPG after recording four consecutive games with 12 or more points. The junior transfer has also tallied 27 assists and 13 steals. Duan Wright averages 9.8 PPG and leads the Hoggies on the glass with 5.4 rebounds per game. TAMUK has adopted the strength in numbers philosophy and has strong play coming off of the bench—most notable, Marcus Frazier who averages 8 points and as 19 picked pockets this season and Robert Stevenson who shoots 64% from the floor and has a team-best of 13 blocks.

A&M-Commerce enters the weekend with a 10-2 record after a tight 78-76 road win against Southern Arkansas. The Lions are third in the conference averaging 88.2 points and fifth with a 12.2 scoring margin. They are equally as dominant on defense with a 6.8 turnover margin that leads the entire league. TAMUC has a 3-1 record in the LSC after claiming wins over Midwestern State, Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico. They fell against Cameron at home to open conference play in a 81-74 overtime loss. 

Malik Albert leads the team with 19 PPG and 24 steals despite missing two games this season. He is followed by Trey Seymore who averages 16.4 points, leads the team with 37 dimes and has also grabbed 5.5 rebounds per game. Senior De'Andre Carson continues to be a key player with 9.3 PPG and is very efficient as he shoots 50% from the floor and 87.5% from the free-throw line. The defense is led by Dorian Armstrong who leads the conference with 26 swats, leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per contest— including 61 total on the defensive glass— while chipping in 7.7 points. 

The Lions hold a 68-53 advantage over the Javelinas in the all-time series, but was dominated in Hog Heaven last season as TAMUK knocked down 15 triples in the wire-to-wire 84-71 victory. 

The first week of games in 2017 will conclude with a big time meeting against #9/#15 Tarleton State who has strung together nine consecutive wins. The Texans are 4-0 in LSC play with wins against Midwestern State, Cameron, Western New Mexico and Eastern New Mexico. TSU is one point away from a perfect season after falling to CSU-Pueblo 79-78 on Thanksgiving day. Offensively the team averages 80.5 points and ranks second in the conference with a 48.2 field goal percentage and 37.5 three-point field goal percentage. They are strong on the other half of the court as they hold their opponents to a league-low 63 points and are second with 8.7 steals per game and four blocks per game. 

Tarleton State is  paced by Ridell Camidge 16.2 PPG, while Romond Jenkins averages a double-double with 12 points and a LSC-best 11.8 rebounds per game. Jenkins also leads the team with 22 blocks and is third in Division II with eight total double-doubles. Deshawn Riddick (11 PPG) and Chantz Chambers (10.7 PPG) round out the double-digit scorers, with Anthony Davis and Josh Hawley on their heels with 9.5 and 8.9 points, respectively. The Texans will square off against Angelo State on Thursday in San Angelo, Texas before making their way to Kingsville.

TAMUK is 22-38 in the all-time series against TSU with its last home win dating back to the 2012-13 season when the Hogs edged the Texans 56-55.

For full coverage of Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball, please follow @JavelinaMBB on Twitter and Instagram, like the official Facebook page of Javelina athletics (/JavelinaSports), and subscribe to the JavelinaAthletics YouTube channel.