LONGVIEW — The UT Tyler basketball teams try to inch closer to a postseason berth tonight as the Patriots travel east to meet rival LeTourneau in a doubleheader at Solheim Arena.
The women play at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men at 7:30 p.m.
The Yellowjackets are having a blueout as they will distribute blue T-shirts to the first 100 fans.
The Patriot men (16-6, 11-5 ASC) lead UT Dallas (15-6, 10-5) by a half-game in the American Southwest Conference East Division standings. The top four teams advance to the playoffs and this year the winner of the East hosts the postseason tournament.
Mississippi College (12-8) is third at 8-6, just a half-game ahead of LeTourneau (9-12, 8-7). Louisiana College (6-10) is still in the hunt at 6-8.
In the women’s race, Louisiana College leads at 14-0, followed by Mississippi College at 9-5. UT Tyler is third at 10-6, a half-game ahead of UT Dallas (9-6).
LeTourneau (7-14) is seventh in the division at 4-11.
The West Division winner hosts the women’s tournament. Howard Payne is leading by three-and-a-half games and will likely host the tourney in Brownwood.