STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — A pivotal early Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball showdown is set for New Year’s Day when the Utah Valley Wolverines visit the Tarleton State Texans at Wisdom Gym on Thursday. Both teams enter 2026 with momentum, boasting two of the league’s top records. Utah Valley (11-3) carries a seven-game winning streak, its last loss coming at San Diego State on Dec. 3. Tarleton State (10-4) has won five straight, last falling at Cincinnati on Dec. 1. The matchup features two of the WAC’s hottest players. Utah Valley guard Jackson Holcombe has been a dynamic force during the Wolverines’ streak, averaging 17.4 points and 4.4 assists over his last seven games. He is coming off a 25-point, 5-assist performance in a 73-66 win over California Baptist on Monday. He will be countered by Tarleton State’s high-scoring guard Camron McDowell. In his last four games where he played significant minutes, McDowell has averaged 23.8 points, including a 26-point outing at Mississippi Valley State and a 23-point game in Monday’s 69-63 road win at Texas-Arlington. Utah Valley’s resume includes quality wins over Weber State and UC Irvine, with its three losses by a combined 20 points. The Wolverines have shown balance, with Trevan Leonhardt adding 14 points and eight assists in the win over Cal Baptist. Tarleton State’s streak has been built largely at home, where they are 7-1 this season, including dominant non-conference wins over Rice and a 119-point offensive explosion against Howard Payne. Their defense held four straight opponents under 65 points before the Texas-Arlington game. This contest is the conference opener for both teams and will serve as a tone-setter in the WAC race. The Texans will look to defend their home court and hand the Wolverines their first loss since early December, while Utah Valley aims to extend its streak and secure a critical road victory to start league play. The game tips off at 7 p.m. CST Thursday.