KINGSVILLE, Texas – Though their eight-game win streak is now a memory, the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball team is still tied with two other teams atop the Lone Star Conference table and, with less than two months remaining in the regular season, the Javelinas are looking toward two more home conference matchups as they try to solidify their status as one their conference's best teams.

TAMUK's first challenge will come on Thursday night, when they're set to square off against the UT Tyler Patriots at 7 p.m. inside the Steinke Physical Education Center in Kingsville, Texas. Two days later, the SPEC will light up again for a Saturday afternoon clash with the A&M-Commerce Lions, a contest scheduled to tip-off at 4 p.m.

These opponents will offer very different challenges for the Javelinas, with UTT's top notch defense presenting a contrast to an excellent Commerce offense. The Patriots have held opponents to a shooting percentage of 28.5 from three-point range in 2019-20, a mark that's 10^th in Division II and they're 12^th in the nation in total 3-point makes allowed. Overall, UTT averages giving up 68.8 points per game this season, a number that includes a 58-47 victory over Tarleton on Dec. 19^th in which the Patriots held the Texans to their lowest point total since in almost seven years.

"This is a very well-coached team," said coach Johnny Estelle. "Coach [Louis] Wilson does a great job. They're going to run a defense that's different from what we've seen so far this season, a matchup-zone. We have to be prepared for that."

The lynchpin to UTT's defense is senior Ty Glover, one of the LSC's best shot-blockers. His 1.2 rejections per game are tied for second-most in the league and Glover totaled four rejections against Cameron in his team's most recent outing. He now has at least one blocked shot in seven straight games.

Glover is anything but a one-dimensional player however. He's 12^th in the LSC in scoring at 16.3 points per game and 19^th in rebounds per game. He scored 34 points against Dixie State on Oct. 9^th, one of four 20-point games he's logged this season, and he's also pocketed a pair of double-doubles.

The Lions' attack is headed-up by two players who are in the conference's top 10 in scoring, including one of the league's best all-around student-athletes in Wayne Stewart. Stewart's 18.7 points per game put him fifth in the LSC and his rebounding average of 6.7 is good enough for 10^th. Entering the week, the senior forward has rattled off four straight games with over 20 points, including a double-double with 12 rebounds against Midwestern State on Jan. 4^th. Stewart has topped 10 points in every game in which he's played 20 minutes in 2019-20.

Also filling up the stat sheet for A&M-C is junior Deon Barrett, who poured in 23 in his team's win over the Mustangs. Barrett is averaging better than 18 points each time out over his team's last eight contests. The duo of Stewart and Barrett have helped the Lions score 82.6 points per game this year, fourth in the LSC.

"We're going to have to examine their team," said Estelle. "We'll wake up on Friday morning and get started on Commerce. They've got a lot of talent and their coach does a great job. We'll have some things we want to throw at them and they'll probably have some things they're going to do to us."

One of the players who will be trying to help the Javelinas keep pace with the Patriots and Lions is senior guard Rashon Thomas (Houston, Texas), who has spent this season solidifying his reputation as one of the league's best shooters. No player has more three-pointers in LSC competition than Thomas and his 26. He also possesses the second-best shooting percentage from the beyond the arc at 49.1 and seventh-best scoring average in conference play with an average of 16.9. The Houston native totaled 18 points in his team's 76-72 win over Tarleton on Jan. 2^nd and hit 4-of-4 from three-point range in the second half, helping the Hogs erase an early deficit to win in Stephenville for the first time since 2009. His six total treys in that game were a career-high.

TAMUK also benefitted from another excellent performance by senior John Mouton (Missouri City, Texas) in their win over TSU. Mouton notched his second career double-double against the Texans, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds, the latter number including four offensive boards. Mouton's ability to clean up on the offensive glass has been an asset for the Hogs throughout the season and the senior's 32 offensive rebounds are the second-most in the conference. In more than half of his team's 13 games, Mouton has pulled in multiple offensive boards.

Fans can follow each game live via Javelinaathletics.com, where links will be available for real-time video and stats and a recap will be published at the end of every contest. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy. To stay up-to-date with TAMUK men's basketball all year long, follow @JavelinaMBB on Twitter, @Javelinasports on Instagram, like Javelina Men's Basketball on Facebook and subscribe to the Javelina Athletics YouTube.