STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — Utah Tech earned a regular-season series sweep of Tarleton State with an 80-72 victory in a Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Wisdom Gym. The Trailblazers and Texans were tied 32-32 at halftime before Utah Tech pulled away in the second half before an announced crowd of 1,502. Jusaun Holt led all scorers with 19 points and added five assists for Utah Tech. Ethan Potter and Chance Trujillo each added 17 points for the Trailblazers, who improved to 17-12. Jordan Mizell scored 14 points to lead Tarleton State, which fell to 14-14. The Texans’ Kaia Isaac added 13 points and Freddy Hicks had 11. The outcome defied a national statistical projection favoring the home team.

STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — In a tightly contested Western Athletic Conference rematch defined by offensive efficiency and a decisive second-half surge, the Utah Tech Trailblazers secured a regular-season series sweep over the Tarleton State Texans with an 80-72 victory on Saturday night at Wisdom Gym. The game, played before a crowd of 1,502, saw the Trailblazers improve to 17-12 overall, while the Texans moved to an even 14-14. The outcome flipped the pregame projections, as statistical models had favored Tarleton State at home. For 20 minutes, the two teams were locked in a stalemate, trading leads and entering halftime knotted at 32-32. The second half, however, belonged to Utah Tech’s backcourt. Guards Jusaun Holt and Chance Trujillo ignited the Trailblazers, combining for 30 of the team’s 48 points after the break to pull away. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded midway through the second half. With Utah Tech clinging to a narrow lead, Tarleton State’s Jordan Mizell scored on consecutive possessions—a layup and a driving layup following a steal—to give the Texans a 52-48 advantage with 11:44 remaining, their largest lead of the half. Utah Tech coach Jon Judkins called a timeout to halt the Texans’ momentum. The response was immediate and devastating. Out of the stoppage, the Trailblazers executed a 14-2 run over the next three and a half minutes, completely shifting the game’s trajectory. The run was fueled by precision from beyond the arc. Ethan Potter started it with a layup, and then Trujillo, a sophomore from Kaysville, Utah, hit back-to-back three-pointers, both assisted by Holt, to reclaim the lead. After a Mizell free throw briefly interrupted the surge, Holt found Potter for another layup, and then Holt himself capped the decisive run with a pair of free throws, pushing the Utah Tech lead to 62-54 with 7:34 to play. Tarleton State would never get closer than five points the rest of the way. The Texans struggled to counterpunch during that pivotal stretch, committing two turnovers and missing two jump shots as the Trailblazers’ defense tightened. Utah Tech’s offensive execution proved superior, as they finished the game with an offensive rating of 128.0 points per 100 possessions, significantly outperforming Tarleton State’s 110.6. Holt, a 6-foot-7 junior from Tacoma, Washington, was the catalyst, finishing with 19 points and five assists, orchestrating the offense throughout his 36 minutes. Trujillo matched Holt’s 19 points, knocking down five three-pointers. Potter, a forward from Layton, Utah, provided a crucial interior presence with 17 points, two assists and two blocks. For Tarleton State, Mizell led the way with 14 points, but was hampered by five turnovers. Kaia Isaac added 13 points and Freddy Hicks scored 11. The Texans won the battle in the paint, 34-28, but were ultimately undone by Utah Tech’s superior three-point shooting (11 of 29 compared to 7 of 22) and efficiency at the free-throw line, where the Trailblazers made 17 of 20 attempts. The win gives Utah Tech a three-game season sweep over Tarleton State, having also won the previous two meetings earlier in the conference schedule. It marks a significant road victory as the Trailblazers position themselves for the upcoming WAC tournament. Utah Tech continues its conference schedule on Thursday at home against Abilene Christian. Tarleton State looks to rebound on the road Thursday at Utah Valley.

STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — A pivotal Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup unfolds Saturday when the Utah Tech Trailblazers visit the Tarleton State Texans at Wisdom Gym. Both teams enter with momentum from Thursday night victories. Utah Tech (16-12, 8-5 WAC) looks to bounce back from a 50-63 road loss at Texas-Arlington, while Tarleton State (14-13, 7-7) aims to build on a 78-74 home win over Southern Utah. The game is the third meeting this season between the teams, with Utah Tech seeking a series sweep. The Trailblazers edged the Texans 75-71 in St. George on Jan. 17, then won 65-59 here in Stephenville on Jan. 31. A key player to watch is Utah Tech forward Ethan Potter, who has been a consistent offensive force. In the Jan. 31 win at Tarleton State, Potter scored 18 points. He is coming off a 16-point performance in Thursday’s loss and has averaged 15.4 points over his last seven games, including a 29-point outing against Southern Utah on Jan. 24. Tarleton State has shown resilience, winning three of its last four games, including an overtime victory over Abilene Christian. The Texans’ defense, which held Southern Utah to 74 points last time out, will be tested by a Utah Tech offense that averages 75.8 points per game in conference play. The matchup carries significant weight for WAC tournament seeding. Utah Tech sits in a tie for third place and can solidify its position, while Tarleton State looks to climb above .500 in league play and strengthen its standing. Saturday’s contest tips off at 4 p.m. Central Time. Utah Tech travels to face Abilene Christian next Thursday, while Tarleton State begins a two-game road swing at Utah Valley.