BIG SPRING, Texas (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Tuesday night when the surging Howard (Tex.) Hawks host the struggling Clarendon Bulldogs in a men’s junior college basketball matchup at Dorothy Garrett Coliseum.

The Hawks (15-3) enter as one of the region’s top teams, while the Bulldogs (4-10) seek consistency. Interstat’s ELO system projects Howard with a 93.1% probability to win, underscoring the challenge ahead for Clarendon.

Howard looks to rebound from a rare stumble, a 65-59 road loss to Odessa on Jan. 22 that snapped a four-game win streak. In that game, Kuai Deng posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Deng has been a steady force for the Hawks, averaging 10.8 points and 7.0 rebounds over his last four contests, highlighted by a 15-point, 5-assist performance in a dominant 72-47 win over Western Texas.

Clarendon, however, arrives with momentum from a 79-74 home victory over Western Texas last Thursday. That win was fueled by a monumental effort from standout KD Davis, who poured in 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Davis has been on a tear, averaging 24.8 points and 9.0 rebounds over his last four games, including a 31-point outing in a loss to New Mexico.

The teams met just one day prior, on Monday, Jan. 26, with Howard prevailing 85-70. Tuesday’s contest offers Clarendon a quick chance for redemption.

For the Bulldogs to pull an upset, they will need another heroic performance from Davis and must find a way to slow Howard’s balanced attack, which has held opponents under 55 points in three of its last six wins. The Hawks’ defense will likely focus on containing Davis, forcing other Clarendon players like Jamari Briggs and Mihailo Stijovic, who combined for 28 points in the last outing, to beat them.

Tipoff is set for Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Big Spring. Following this game, Howard will host South Plains on Thursday, while Clarendon prepares to host Odessa.