Huskies Face Crucial Mid-Season Tests Against UTRGV and UIW
Houston Christian University (HCU) enters a pivotal stretch of its season, hosting the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) on Saturday, January 24, 2026, and the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) on Monday, January 26, 2026. These games mark the midway point of the 22-game Southland Conference schedule and represent key opportunities for the Huskies to solidify their position in the league standings.
The Huskies are coming off a thrilling 82-80 victory over Northwestern State University, secured by a clutch layup from Kylin Green with just 4.3 seconds remaining. Trailing by 10 points with nine minutes left, HCU mounted a remarkable comeback, fueled by a season-high 60% shooting performance from the field and a remarkable 12-for-20 clip from beyond the arc. “We showed a lot of resilience in that game,” a senior player noted, reflecting on the team’s ability to overcome adversity.
Demari Williams led the Huskies in scoring with 16 points, while Green contributed 14 points and an impressive 10 assists. Trent Johnson and Ryan Bartley each added 12 points, showcasing the team’s balanced offensive attack. The victory was particularly significant as it marked the second consecutive win for HCU and demonstrated their growing confidence.
Head Coach Craig Doty, now in his second season, has instilled a winning culture at HCU. After guiding the team to a 12-20 record in 2024-25, Doty recently signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season, a testament to the program’s progress. The Huskies doubled their win total from the previous season, finishing seventh in the Southland Conference after being predicted to finish last.
Currently, Elijah Brooks leads HCU in scoring with an average of 12.3 points per game, complemented by 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals. Kylin Green closely follows with 11.8 points and a Southland Conference-leading 5.1 assists per game. Green’s playmaking ability has been instrumental to the Huskies’ success, and he recently flirted with a triple-double against Southeastern.
Demari Williams has emerged as a key contributor since the Christmas break, averaging 14.1 points while shooting 50% from the floor and 41% from three-point range in his last seven games. The Huskies boast a quartet of players averaging double figures in conference play, including Williams, Brooks, Green, and Demarco Bethea, who leads the team in rebounding with 5.1 boards per game.
The upcoming matchup against UTRGV will be the first of the season between the two programs. The Vaqueros, led by head coach Kahil Fennell, currently hold an 8-11 overall record and a 4-6 mark in the Southland Conference. UTRGV recently secured three-point victories over McNeese and Southeastern, demonstrating their competitive edge. Koree Cotton paces the Vaqueros with 13.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in conference play, while Filip Brankovic adds 14 points and five rebounds.
Historically, UTRGV holds a 17-12 advantage in the all-time series, but the last dozen meetings have been evenly split. The two schools have competed in three different conferences throughout their history – the Trans America Athletic Conference, the Great West Conference, and now the Southland Conference – highlighting a long-standing rivalry.
Following the contest against UTRGV, HCU will renew its rivalry with UIW on Monday night. The Cardinals, coached by Shane Heirman, currently stand at 9-10 overall and 4-6 in conference play. UIW boasts the third-highest scoring offense in the Southland Conference, averaging 76.2 points per game, led by the dynamic duo of Davion Bailey (18.3 ppg) and Tahj Staveskie (17.5 ppg). .
HCU holds a 15-12 advantage in the series since both schools joined the Southland Conference, though UIW currently leads the overall series 27-16. The Huskies will look to avenge a 73-56 loss to the Cardinals earlier this month.
Following the game against UIW, HCU will embark on a four-game road trip, beginning with a rematch against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on January 31. The Huskies will need to maintain their momentum and continue to execute their game plan to navigate this challenging stretch and position themselves for a successful run in the Southland Conference tournament. #DawgsUp
