Kingsville - Texas A&M-Kingsville returns to the Steinke Physical Education Center Thursday night to host St. Edward's University in a Lone Star Conference showdown, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.

The Javelinas (10-10, 7-5 LSC) enter the contest sitting in seventh place in the conference standings, tied with West Texas A&M. With the LSC tournament picture beginning to take shape, every home game becomes crucial as the Javelinas look to solidify their postseason positioning.

TAMUK has shown flashes of dominance at home this season, posting a 6-3 record at the SPEC. The Javelinas will need that home-court advantage Thursday night as they face a Hilltoppers squad that has been one of the conference's most consistent teams.

A welcome sight for the Javelinas in recent games has been the continued development of their balanced offensive attack. Bryson Goldsmith leads the team at 10.6 points per game while shooting an efficient 42.6% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range. TJ Ford Jr. has emerged as a reliable scoring threat off the bench, averaging 9.2 points per game, while Allen Singleton provides steady production with 9.5 points per contest.

The Javelinas have built their success on two key areas: controlling the glass and protecting the basketball. Kingsville ranks fifth in the LSC in both offensive rebounding (11.9 per game) and turnover margin (plus 3.05), demonstrating their ability to generate second-chance opportunities while limiting mistakes. Bryce Smith has been a catalyst on the defensive end, ranking seventh in the conference with 2.2 steals per game.

St. Edward's (18-4, 7-4 LSC) presents a formidable challenge, entering Thursday's game riding a two-game winning streak and sitting in fifth place in the conference standings. The Hilltoppers boast an impressive 4-1 away record but will need to prove themselves on the road in Kingsville.

The Hilltoppers are led by Blake Nielsen, who paces the team with 18.8 points per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Nielsen is a complete player, adding 5.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest. Ryder Bradley provides secondary scoring with 13.2 points per game, while Jamison Kay controls the paint with a team-leading 6.4 rebounds.

What makes St. Edward's dangerous is their discipline with the basketball. The Hilltoppers rank third in the LSC in turnover margin at plus 3.5, averaging just 10.5 turnovers per game while forcing 14.0 from opponents. Bradley orchestrates the offense with 4.0 assists per game, good for sixth in the conference.

For the Javelinas, protecting home court is essential as they navigate the final stretch of conference play. With less than a month remaining in the regular season, every game carries postseason implications.

Tip-off for Thursday's contest is set for 7:30 p.m. CST at the SPEC. Follow Javelina Basketball on social media for live updates throughout the game.