BATON ROUGE, La. (Interstat) — Two SWAC men’s basketball teams seeking momentum to open the new year will meet Saturday when the Southern Jaguars host the Texas Southern Tigers at the Clark Activity Center.

Both programs enter the contest after challenging non-conference slates. Texas Southern (2-9) snapped a five-game skid with an 80-56 win over Huston-Tillotson on Tuesday. Southern (4-9) looks to rebound from a 90-55 road loss to Illinois on Monday, which extended its current losing streak to five games.

The matchup features a pair of standout forwards. Texas Southern’s Troy Hupstead is coming off a career-high 30-point performance in the Tigers’ win, where he played 34 minutes. Over his last five games, Hupstead is averaging 15.8 points per contest. He will be a primary focus for the Tigers’ offense.

Southern will counter with Malek Abdelgowad, who has provided consistent scoring punch. Abdelgowad has reached double figures in five straight games, including a 21-point effort at Texas State and a 19-point performance at Baylor. His ability to score efficiently will be key for a Jaguars’ offense that has struggled at times during its recent road stretch.

Texas Southern’s victory over Huston-Tillotson saw strong contributions from Oumar Koureissi (17 points) and Bryce Roberts (11 points, 3 assists) alongside Hupstead. Southern, in its loss to Illinois, was led by Michael Jacobs’ 11 points and 4 rebounds.

Historically, games between these SWAC rivals are tightly contested, adding intrigue despite the combined 6-18 record. This conference opener represents a fresh start for both squads, with each aiming to establish an early foothold in the league standings. Southern will look to leverage its home court, while Texas Southern aims to build on its most recent victory and secure a rare road win.

Tip-off is set for Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Baton Rouge.