Preview: Tarleton State Texans at Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils

AVALON, Miss. (Interstat) — A surging Tarleton State team will look to extend its winning streak against a struggling Mississippi Valley State squad when the Texans visit the Delta Devils in non-conference men’s basketball Tuesday night at the LeFlore County Civic Center.

The Texans (7-4) enter on a three-game win streak, including dominant home victories over Cameron (93-63) and Howard Payne (119-54) earlier this month. Their offense has found a rhythm, averaging 93 points over those three contests.

Mississippi Valley State (1-9) seeks to end a seven-game skid, a stretch defined by challenging road games against power-conference opponents. The Delta Devils are coming off a 108-49 loss at Kansas State on Dec. 8.

A key matchup will feature two high-scoring guards. Tarleton State’s Camron McDowell has been on a tear, averaging 20.5 points over his last four games. He dropped 26 points in just 21 minutes in the win over Cameron.

For the Delta Devils, Michael James has been a bright spot, averaging 21.3 points over his last four outings. He scored 32 points at Texas A&M on Nov. 25 and 23 in the loss at Kansas State.

The Texans have balanced scoring behind McDowell, with Freddy Hicks (16 points vs. Cameron) providing consistent support. Mississippi Valley State, which has lost its games by an average margin of 30.7 points, will need a standout performance from James and improved defense to compete.

This game represents a final tune-up before both teams resume busy schedules. Tarleton State hosts Florida A&M on Friday, while Mississippi Valley State continues a grueling road stretch at Florida State.

Tip-off is set for Tuesday, Dec. 16, in Avalon.