COMMERCE, Texas – 2018 begins with a bang as Texas A&M University-Kingsville (9-4, 2-1 LSC) hits the road to challenge No. 18 Texas A&M University-Commerce (11-1, 4-0 LSC) on January 4 and will end the week with a game at Tarleton State University (7-5, 3-1 LSC) on January 6. 

A change of scenery may be nice for the Javelinas as they act as the visiting team for the first time in over a month. After a hot start to the season, TAMUK has cooled off and looks to snap a three-game drop-off in their first conference road games of the 2017-18 campaign. The Hogs will lean on their motto "defense travels" as they are the 21st ranked club in scoring defense in all of Division II (66 ppg) due to their ability to protect the paint, racking up 56 total blocks through 13 games which sit 27th in DII. Although Trey Sumpter leads the team in scoring with 11.5 ppg, he is due for a big game after being held to single-digit scoring over the last two outings. Sumpter also averages 5.5 rebounds per game and has nine steals this season. Robert Stevenson (6.2 ppg) is the defensive anchor for the Hoggies as his 5.6 boards per game lead the team and his 26 blocks lead the LSC.  

The Javelinas will play their first nationally ranked team this season when they go toe-to-toe with A&M-Commerce at the Field House on January 4 at 7:30 p.m. The Lions was handed their first loss of the season on December 16 when they were clipped by future LSC member No. 11 Arkansas-Fort Smith 63-62. They responded, however, with a convincing 71-48 win at Texas A&M International. TAMUC ranks seventh in the league with 74.4 points per game but holds the top slot in scoring defense as they give up just 63.5 points. Willie Rooks leads the team with 15.2 ppg and eight blocks and Reggie Reid follows with 14.5 ppg. Reid leads the conference with 27 total steals and has a team-high of 55 assists this year. Dorian Armstrong rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.1 points and nearly averages a double-double with 7.4 rebounds per game.     

The weekend will conclude inside of Wisdom Gym against Tarleton State at 4 p.m. The Texans are 6-4 at home this year and are coming off of a 64-51 loss at the hands of No. 2 Queens. TSU will cap off their seven-game homestand versus they Javelinas after they match up with #RV Angelo State on January 4. Tarleton enters the weekend scoring 75.6 points per game and defensively, they lead the entire conference with 5.33 blocks per game. Corinthian Ramsey nearly averages 20 points, while Josh Howley scores 16.3 points and leads the team with 8.9 rebounds per game and 25 blocks. Jaraan Lands and Deshawn Riddick both have averages of ten points per game and Riddick leads the team with 47 assists and 17 steals. 

Fans can stream both games and follow the action via live stats with all links presented on the men's basketball schedule page at javelinaathletics.com. Live stats will be free but the live stream can be made accessible for a fee. 

Become a member of the 6th Man Pack that features great benefits such as reserved chairback seating for home games and access to the 6th Man Pack Lounge at LSC doubleheaders for the 2017-18 season. The 6th Man Pack Lounge will be catered by Fatman's Meat Market. For more information on joining the team, contact the ticket office at 361-593-4030. 

Receive content for Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball by following @JavelinaMBB on Twitter and Instagram, like the official Facebook page of Javelina athletics (/JavelinaSports), and subscribing to the Javelina Athletics YouTube channel.