
STEPHENVILLE – Freddy Hicks made his season debut to lead Texan Men’s Basketball to its second consecutive win against California Baptist on Thursday night in Wisdom Gym, 67-57.
The Texans (8-11 overall, 3-1 WAC) become the second program to notch their third WAC victory this season. The Lancers (8-9, 1-2) drop their second-straight contest in Wisdom Gym. The Purple and White never let CBU lead throughout the 40-minute contest.
“Our guys made big plays when we needed it tonight,” said head coach Billy Gillispie. ” Freddy Hicks sure does make a difference out there. He only got to play 19 minutes, but those were definitely 19 impact-full minutes.”
In his return to the Texans, Hicks shined. He made his season debut and first appearance in Wisdom Gym since 2023 when he spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career in Stephenville. The senior was one of four Texans to score in double figures leading the way with 15. He also tied for the team lead with three assists. Hicks shot 9-for-14 from the charity stripe and sunk three buckets from the floor.
Chris Mpaka recorded 11 points and five boards in 15 minutes of action. The junior college transfer notched at least 10 points for the ninth time this season and fouled out for the fourth time.
Dantwan Grimes and Keitenn Bristow also scored in double digits. Grimes notched 13 points, his third conference game in double-figures. He extended his perfect free throw streak in conference play, knocking down all eight of his attempts. Bristow registered 10 points and added five boards.
Former Texan Adam Moussa played 26 minutes posting zero points and six assists for the Lancers.
Mpaka carried the Texans to start the game. The big man recorded eight of the first Texan points in the first nine minutes of play to put the Texans ahead, 10-5. Mpaka sunk four shots from the floor during that span. He was credited with six-straight points to end the run. Izzy Miles sunk a pair of free throws to contribute the other two points to begin the contest.
With 12:10 remaining in the first half, Hicks checked into the game for the first time. Hicks hadn’t played in Wisdom Gym since Feb. 28, 2023, and hadn’t played in a game since March 26, 2024. Hicks drove the lane and flipped in an acrobatic lay-up for his first bucket in his second stint as a Texan. Just a minute later, he dished off his first assist to Bubu Benjamin where he sunk his first triple of the game.
Grimes started a 6-0 Texan run with a triple to give the Purple and White their largest lead to that point in the game. Miles followed with a layup and a Hicks free throw to give the Texans a 21-12 advantage with 6:13 to go.
CBU responded with a 7-2 run to cut its deficit to four with 3:44 remaining in the half. Tarleton didn’t allow the Lancers to make another field goal and used an 8-1 run to take an 11-point lead at the break. Benjamin nailed his second triple of the game as the first half expired from the top of the arc to send the Purple and White into the half leading, 31-20.
The Texans held the Lancers to just 20 points, the second fewest points they have ever allowed to a WAC opponent. On Dec. 29, 2022, the Texans held UT Arlington to just 16 points. The 20-mark ties the 20 points the Texans allowed to Utah Valley later that season on Feb. 23.
Both teams swapped baskets to start the second half. With the Texans leading by 10, 34-24, Tarleton burst out on a 6-0 run for their largest lead of the night, 16. The 6-0 run included a classic three-point play by Jordan Mizell and three points for Hicks. Tarleton State led 40-24 with 14:30 to go in the contest.
The Lancers shortened their deficit to 10 responding with an 8-2 comeback. Miles brought the Texan lead up to 13 with a classic three-point play driving into the paint. CBU dropped their deficit to single digits, 47-38, with 9:44 left. With 8:16 to go in the game, Mpaka committed his fifth foul, ending his night, and leaving a hole underneath for the Purple and White.
California Baptist used a 5-0 run coming from five free throws to cut their deficit to six, 51-45 with 6:47 to go in the half. CBU cut its deficit to just two, 55-53 with 3:07. But trouble struck for the Lancers when the top 10 scorer in the nation and their leading scorer on the night fouled out. Grimes sunk a pair of freebies to bring the Purple and White lead back up four, 57-53.
At the two-minute mark the Texans pushed ahead to a six-point advantage. After a last second shot before the shot clock hit the rim and granted the Texans another 20 seconds on the clock. Grimes drove in for a layup to push the lead back to six. The Lancers and Tarleton swapped buckets again to keep TSU up six, thanks to Benjamin.
In the final minute, the Texans forced a stop, then Grimes made a pair of back-to-back free throws to put the Purple and White ahead by eight with 47 ticks to go. CBU turned the ball over again, this time resulting into freebies drained by Hicks. In the final twenty seconds, the Lancers made a bucket and fouled Grimes to put him at the line for the fourth time where he sunk all eight. Ultimately, he iced the game to give the Texans the victory, 67-57.
Tarleton State shot 20-for-45 from the floor, a 44.4 percent rate. At the line, the Texans shot 80 percent, 24-for-30. The Purple and White won the turnover battle forcing 13 turnovers and committing just 11.
Tarleton State will close the week on Saturday night in Phoenix against 2024 WAC Tournament champion Grand Canyon. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. CT at GCU Arena and will be aired on ESPN+.
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