By CHASE UPTON/Sports Editor
TYLER, Texas — The University of Texas at Tyler men’s and women’s basketball teams will host two major Lone Star Conference matchups inside the Herrington Patriot Center on Tuesday night. The women tip off at 5:30 p.m. in a rematch against No. 2 Texas Woman’s University (22–1, 16–0 LSC), followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m. against No. 25 Dallas Baptist University (20–6, 14–2).
Both contests carry major postseason implications as the Lone Star Conference Championships approach at the Comerica Center in Frisco next month. The Patriot men are battling for a tournament spot, while the women are pushing for a chance at the No. 1 seed.
Game 1 — UT Tyler vs. No. 2 Texas Woman’s, 5:30 p.m
The Patriots enter this matchup sitting third in the Lone Star Conference standings with a 13–3 league record. With a win over first-place Texas Woman’s, UT Tyler would put itself in position to contend for the regular-season title if it closes the year strong and gets some help elsewhere. The two teams met less than two weeks ago on Feb. 5 in Denton, where the Patriots fell 63–51 for just their third conference loss of the season. Even in defeat, UT Tyler showed its defensive strength, becoming one of only five teams this year to hold TWU under 65 points.
That defensive identity has defined head coach Rebecca Alvidrez’s squad all season. The Patriots currently rank No. 4 nationally in scoring defense. Under Alvidrez they have been nearly unbeatable at home in conference play, going a perfect 7-0 this season and compiling a remarkable 44–5 record over the past five seasons, good for an 89.8 winning percentage inside the HPC.
Freshman Leila Davis leads the way offensively, averaging 12.2 points per game and raising that mark to 17.3 over her last three outings. Her recent stretch includes her fifth 20-point performance of the season in UT Tyler’s win over Oklahoma Christian on Saturday, along with a 19-point showing in the earlier matchup against TWU. Running the offense is Polina Latysheva, who has started every game this season and leads the team in conference play in minutes (32.1), assists (3.8), made three-pointers (30), and steals (2.3). UT Tyler will need strong performances from both Davis and Latysheva if it hopes to play spoiler and knock off the No. 2 team in the nation Tuesday.
Game 2 — UT Tyler vs. No. 25 Dallas Baptist, 7:30 p.m.
UT Tyler enters Tuesday night’s matchup 12–10 overall and 6–10 in Lone Star Conference play, currently in a three-way tie with Angelo State and Midwestern State for 10th place, making every remaining game a must-win.
Head coach Tim Moser’s squad comes off back-to-back wins, including a 22-point performance from Kyle Morgan in a victory over Cameron. They followed that with a 76–65 win over Oklahoma Christian on Saturday, paced by Sean Emfinger’s 26 points, the most by a Patriot this season.
For the nightcap, the Patriots’ rematch with No. 25 Dallas Baptist promises high intensity. In their first meeting less than two weeks ago, UT Tyler fell 90–79 in a competitive game that featured a late scuffle that led to multiple ejections for both squads, adding extra drama to Tuesday’s matchup.
Fans can expect a physical, fast-paced game inside the Herrington Patriot Center. While the Patriots are chasing a Lone Star Conference tournament berth, their recent momentum and the chance to challenge a top-ranked LSC opponent make this a must-see game for Patriot fans.
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