ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — A surging scorer meets a struggling squad when Tarleton State visits Utah Tech in a Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Burns Arena.

The Texans (11-7, 2-3 WAC) aim to rebound from a heartbreaking 106-105 overtime loss at Southern Utah on Thursday. The Trailblazers (9-10, 1-5) look to halt a four-game skid after a 56-52 home loss to Texas-Arlington the same night.

All eyes will be on Tarleton State guard Dior Johnson, who has erupted offensively in WAC play. Despite the loss at Southern Utah, Johnson poured in a career-high 40 points. It was his fourth 30-point performance in his last five games, a stretch where he is averaging 34.2 points per contest. His backcourt mate, Camron McDowell, added 24 points in the overtime defeat.

Utah Tech, conversely, has struggled to find consistent offense during its losing streak. Guard Tanner Davis leads the team and is coming off a 16-point effort against UT-Arlington, but the Trailblazers have failed to reach 80 points in any of their four consecutive losses.

The Texans have shown a high-octane attack, scoring over 80 points in seven of their last ten games. Utah Tech’s defense, which allowed just 56 points last time out, will be tested by Johnson’s dynamic play.

Tarleton State holds the overall season edge, but Utah Tech will seek to protect its home court and gain traction in the conference standings. The teams will meet again in Stephenville, Texas, on Jan. 31.

Saturday’s game tips off at 7 p.m. MST.