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STEPHENVILLE - The Texans will face Missouri Southern St. in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Wichita Falls.  Tarleton will take on the Lions for the first time since 1991 with a shot at the winner of West Texas A&M/Arkansas Tech in the second round.  It will be the Texans' fifth contest of the season against a ranked opponent.

LAST WEEK
    The Texans (26-5, 15-3) made a deep run in the Lone Star Conference Tournament, but unfortunately fell to No. 5 Midwestern State in the championship game, 57-51.  Tarleton had defeated Texas A&M-Kingsville and South Central Regional participant West Texas A&M in order to make their third straight final.  The Texans are getting used to tournament play after playing in three already this season.

THIS YEAR
    On the season, Tarleton is shooting 47.3 percent from the floor, 32.6 percent from three-point land and 70.4 percent from the charity stripe.  The Texans are averaging 68.7 points per game and 35.3 rebounds per game.

HOLDING OFF OPPONENTS
    Opponent's are shooting just 38.0 percent overall and averaging 56.2 points per game against the Texans.  Tarleton is No. 1 in the nation in points allowed and No. 2 in field goal percentage allowed.

STATISTICAL LEADERS
    Fabian Wilson is averaging team-highs in points with 13.0 per game and rebounds with 7.2 per game.  Chris Harrell is chipping in 12.4 points and shoots 81.1 percent from the free throw line, while Shedrick Haynes adds 10.6 points and 3.5 assists each contest.

SIZING UP THE OPPONENT
    Missouri Southern St. is 22-7 on the year and finished 14-6 in the MIAA Conference.  Despite two losses in a row, the Lions are a dangerous team that Tarleton knows little about.  One thing is for sure, MSSU has talent and can score in bunches.
    The Lions defeated the Texans in their only meeting history in 1991 in Florence, Ala.
 
STOPPING THE LIONS
    Overall, MSSU is averaging 82.8 points per game and coming off a 102 points performance against Fort Hays St.  The Lions are also shooting 50.2 percent from the floor, 36.3 percent from three-point range and holding opponents to 73.2 points.  They are out-rebounding opposing teams and committing fewer turnovers.
    MSSU led the MIAA in scoring, as well as field goal percentage, rebounding offense (36.4), assists (19.1), and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3).

WHO TO LOOK FOR
    The Lions have the reigning South Central Region Player of the Year in Keane Thomann, who averaged 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and shot 63.3 percent per game.  Second team all-region player Jason Adams is just as dangerous with 19.0 points and 4.2 assists each contest.
    Both players were in the top three in a number of categories in the MIAA.

AMONG THE BEST
    The Texans are ranked near the top of almost every statistical category in the Lone Star Conference.
    Tarleton is No. 1 in scoring defense (56.2 ppg) and No. 1 in scoring margin (+12.5).  The Texans are also No. 2 in field goal defense (.380), No. 2 in three-point field goal defense (.302) and No. 2 in rebounding defense (29.2).
    Individually, Chris Harrell is No. 14 in scoring (12.4 ppg), while Fabian Wilson is No. 3 in rebounding (7.2) and No.10 in scoring (13.0).  Shedrick Haynes is No. 7 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2) as well as No. 5 in assists (3.6). Harrell and Coleman Furst rank in the top four in free throw percentage.

LSC PROMINENCE
    Tarleton locked up their sixth regular season title and advanced to the LSC Tournament Finals for the third straight year  With the LSC not longer have divisions, it is a share of the championship.
    Since its inclusion in the LSC in 1994, the Texans have gone 150-76 for a winning percentage of .664.         

TOURNAMENT HISTORY
    Tarleton reached their first South Central Regional tournament in 2002.  Since then, the Texans have gone 12-6 in the tournament and advanced to two Elite Eights.  This marks Tarleton's ninth trip to the NCAA DII postseason.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
    The Texans will face Missouri Southern St. on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.  If victorious, they will take on the winner of West Texas A&M and Arkansas Tech on Sunday night.

DID YOU KNOW?
    Fabian Wilson was named to the first team All-South Central Region for his achievements this season.  He was also named first team All-Conference.

Live stats are found at the tournament central on Midwestern State's website while the live radio is provided by KSTV 93.1 FM.

For more information regarding the 2012 postseason, check out TarletonSports.com.