BIG SPRING, Texas (Interstat) — A surging Howard (Tex.) Hawks squad, boasting one of the nation’s top junior college men’s basketball records, will host the up-and-down Frank Phillips Plainsmen in a conference clash Monday at Dorothy Garrett Coliseum.

The Hawks (11-2) enter on a six-game winning streak, having dominated their December schedule by an average margin of 24 points. Their most recent outing was a 101-77 rout of Southern Nevada on Dec. 19, where Terry Copeland dropped 20 points and Daniel Culberson dished out eight assists. Howard’s only stumbles this season were a pair of losses to Lamar in November, but they avenged one emphatically with an 82-66 victory later that month.

Frank Phillips (5-6) has shown flashes but struggles with consistency. The Plainsmen snapped a three-game skid with a 76-72 win over Ranger on Dec. 8, fueled by a 23-point, 5-assist performance from guard Bryceson Dobie. That victory highlighted their potential, but a narrow 100-102 loss to Trinidad State and an overtime defeat to Lamar also dot their ledger. The Plainsmen’s offense can be potent, scoring 85 or more points in four games, but they have also been held under 70 three times.

This matchup pits Howard’s formidable defense, which has held opponents to 60 points or fewer four times, against a Frank Phillips team that relies on offensive output from Dobie and forward Mor Mboup, who had 12 points and six rebounds in the Ranger win.

The game marks the conference opener for both teams. They will meet again in Borger, Texas, on Feb. 5. Howard’s schedule remains daunting after Monday, with road trips to New Mexico Military and Western Texas looming. Frank Phillips faces a quick turnaround, hosting Clarendon on Jan. 8 before a tough road test at South Plains on Jan. 12.

Tip-off is set for Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. The Hawks will look to protect their home floor and solidify their status as a regional force, while the Plainsmen aim to spring an early-season upset and level their record.