KINGSVILLE, Texas – Following more than a week since their last contest, the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team is ready to shake off the rust with a non-conference tilt against the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys on Saturday at 2 p.m. at The Highlands gymnasium in Waco, Texas. This will mark the first ever matchup between these programs.

The Javelinas (3-5, 0-2) have run the gauntlet in their last four games, going up against one of the nation's top 10 teams, as well as two Lone Star Conference opponents that are receiving votes nationally. This stretch started with an 11-point road win on Nov. 24^th over the St. Edward's Hilltoppers, who were placed at No. 8 in the last Division II Sports Information Directors Association poll.

TAMUK remained on the road to begin their conference schedule with clashes against Tarleton and A&M-Commerce, both of which resulted in close losses for the Blue and Gold. The Hogs then met St. Edward's again in a battle than went to overtime before SEU prevailed, 88-83. Despite dropping three of those four contests, the Javelinas were only minus-six in scoring differential during that period.

The first month of the season has seen the Hogs establish themselves as one of the most formidable defensive teams in the country. They're one of only four squads in Division II to be in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, three-point field goal percentage defense and blocks per game. Of those statistics, three-point field goal percentage is the only one the Javelinas don't lead the LSC in. St. Edward's and South Dakota Mines are the only teams to exceed their scoring average against the Javelinas and both those instances came in games that went to overtime.

Senior Robert Stevenson (Houston, Texas) has continued to lead TAMUK's defensive efforts and resides in the top 10 in the LSC in blocks and rebounds per game. Freshman Darius Mickens (Willis, Texas), senior Elton Dyer (Houston, Texas) and junior Chauncey Thomas (Plano, Texas) own spots in the conference's top 11 in steals per game. Thomas has also headed the team's offensive attack, scoring in double figures thrice in his team's last four times out, including 18 against Commerce.

The No. 1 job for TAMUK's defense on Saturday will be slowing down Arkansas Tech's top scorer: sophomore guard R.J. Glasper. The Forrest City, Ark. native has eclipsed 20 points four times in 2018. His most impressive performance came on Dec. 1^st against Henderson State, when he poured in 30 points while also doling out eight assists. That night came just two days after Glasper accumulated a stat line that included 25 points and 10 dimes at Ouachita Baptist.

The Wonder Boys (2-6, 0-3) began the year by capturing two of their first four games, but four consecutive losses have put a damper on their early season momentum. The Wonder Boys have allowed at least 75 points in each game during their losing streak and their average of 83.6 points per game allowed is 11^th of 12 teams in the Great American Conference and 272^nd in Division II. They also have yet to hold an opponent to under 70 points this season.

Scoring has been a much more successful endeavor for the Wonder Boys and they average 81.6 point per contest, 4^th in the GAC. They've benefitted from excellent play on the glass and the 40.9 rebounds they average leads the league as is good enough for 37^th nationally. They're also lethal from the charity stripe, hitting better than 75 percent of their free tosses.

A link to live stats for Saturday's clash and a rundown of all the goings-on in Waco will be available via Javelinaathletics.com. To stay up-to-date with everything related to TAMUK men's basketball, follow @JavelinaMBB on Twitter, @Javelinasports on Instagram, like Javelina Men's Basketball on Facebook and subscribe to the Javelina Athletics YouTube Channel.