STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive first-half surge, the Tarleton State Texans comfortably handled the visiting Florida A&M Rattlers 78-54 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at Wisdom Gym.

The Texans, improving to 9-4, seized control early with a dominant opening 20 minutes, building a 49-35 halftime lead that the Rattlers never seriously threatened. The Rattlers, who fell to 3-6, struggled with offensive efficiency throughout the contest, shooting just 32.7% from the field and committing 22 turnovers.

The most important part of the game was Tarleton State’s immediate and sustained offensive execution in the first half, which rendered Florida A&M’s efforts futile. The Texans shot a blistering 58.6% from the field before halftime, including 5 of 8 from three-point range, to build their 14-point cushion. This early explosion, fueled by balanced scoring and crisp ball movement, allowed Tarleton State to manage the game with ease in the second half, as the Rattlers could not mount a run to cut the deficit to single digits.

Leroy Jordan led all scorers with 18 points for Tarleton State, showcasing his efficiency from beyond the arc. Dior Johnson provided a significant spark off the bench with 13 points, all in the first half, while Andy Sigiscar added 12 points. Jordan Mizell orchestrated the offense with a game-high eight assists over 38 minutes.

For Florida A&M, Jordan Chatman shouldered the scoring load with 17 points, and Antonio Baker contributed 16. However, the Rattlers’ offense was plagued by poor shooting and ball security, leading to an offensive rating of just 68.0 points per 100 possessions.

Defensively, both teams were active, each recording 13 steals. Tarleton State capitalized more effectively on Florida A&M’s mistakes, turning 22 Rattler turnovers into 28 points, while the Rattlers managed only 15 points off 19 Texan giveaways.

The game’s pace was frantic at the outset, with both teams forcing turnovers. After an early exchange, Tarleton State began to find its rhythm. A 9-0 run midway through the first half, capped by a Johnson three-pointer and a Sigiscar dunk, stretched an early lead to 20-9. Florida A&M’s Chatman kept his team within shouting distance with a trio of first-half three-pointers, but every Rattler basket was met with an immediate Texan response.

Tarleton State’s interior presence, led by Chris Mpaka’s 10 points and nine rebounds, also proved decisive, as the Texans outscored the Rattlers 42-22 in the paint.

The second half saw Tarleton State maintain its defensive intensity, holding Florida A&M to 19 points on 6-of-24 shooting. The Rattlers’ offensive woes were encapsulated by a stretch of over four minutes without a field goal late in the period, as the Texans extended their lead to as many as 26 points.

A crowd of 811 at Wisdom Gym watched the Texans win their second straight and continue a strong start to the season, which includes notable victories over Rice and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Florida A&M, coming off a win against Jacksonville, saw its modest two-game winning streak snapped and now faces a quick turnaround at Texas Christian on Sunday.

Tarleton State, which entered the game as a heavy favorite according to analytics projections, will next play at Texas-Arlington on Dec. 29 to begin Western Athletic Conference play. The total points scored fell well under the pregame over/under line of 149.5, largely due to Florida A&M’s prolonged scoring struggles.