STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — A pivotal Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup with seeding implications for the upcoming tournament is set for Thursday when the Texas-Arlington Mavericks visit the Tarleton State Texans at Wisdom Gym.

The Mavericks (15-13 overall) enter the contest looking to solidify a winning season and gain momentum, while the Texans (14-16) aim to reach .500 in the final stretch. The teams split their two meetings this season, each winning on their opponent’s home floor. Tarleton State won 69-63 in Arlington on Dec. 29, before the Mavericks returned the favor with a 71-64 victory in Stephenville on Jan. 21.

Texas-Arlington has lost five of its last six games, most recently falling 68-56 at California Baptist on Feb. 26. Guard Casmir Chavis led the Mavericks in that loss with 15 points and has been a key offensive catalyst. Over his last eight games, Chavis has averaged 11.9 points, including a 20-point outing in a close loss at Abilene Christian on Feb. 12.

Tarleton State has dropped three straight, including an 82-67 defeat at California Baptist on Saturday. Guard Dior Johnson has been a bright spot during the skid, averaging 23.5 points over those two contests. His scoring burst will be central to the Texans’ hopes of snapping their losing streak and avenging the January home loss to UTA.

The game could hinge on backcourt play, with Chavis and Johnson as focal points. Both teams are seeking consistency after recent struggles, making this a critical tune-up before their regular season finales on Saturday. For Tarleton State, a win would also provide a positive send-off for seniors in their final home game.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at Wisdom Gym. Texas-Arlington concludes its regular season at Abilene Christian on Saturday.