STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — A tight Western Athletic Conference series will see its rubber match Thursday when Tarleton State hosts Southern Utah at Wisdom Gym. The teams have split two thrilling meetings this season. On Jan. 15, Southern Utah (9-17, 4-9 WAC) edged the Texans 106-105 in overtime in Cedar City. Tarleton State (13-13, 6-7) returned the favor on Feb. 7 with a 62-59 defensive road victory. The Texans enter with momentum following a 65-62 overtime win over Abilene Christian on Monday. Guard Jordan Mizell logged 41 minutes and scored 18 points in that contest, continuing his role as a key perimeter contributor. He scored 12 points in a loss to ACU on Feb. 14 and had four points in the previous win over Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds are also coming off a win, having defeated Texas-Arlington 78-73 on Saturday. Forward Kai Burdick provided a strong all-around performance in that victory with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 26 minutes. His role has fluctuated, however; he was limited to eight minutes and two points in the loss to Tarleton State earlier this month. Southern Utah’s offense runs through guard Elijah Duval, who erupted for 20 points against UTA, and forward Tanner Hayhurst, who added 11 points and six rebounds. Tarleton State’s attack is bolstered by guard Kade Douglas, who scored a game-high 24 points in the overtime win over Abilene Christian. The Texans hold the middle ground in the WAC standings, while the Thunderbirds are looking to climb out of the lower tier. Both teams have struggled for consistency in conference play, making this a pivotal game for seeding ahead of next month’s WAC tournament. Following this matchup, Southern Utah visits Abilene Christian on Saturday. Tarleton State remains home to host Utah Tech the same day.