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ARLINGTON, Texas - The target on the UTA men's basketball team's back becomes a bit larger Saturday when the Mavericks open Sun Belt Conference play against Coastal Carolina in College Park Center.

Tipoff for the second game of a league doubleheader with the UTA women's team is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. (CST). The Lady Mavs host Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online at UTATickets.com. Single game, group tickets and specially-priced multi-game packages are available. All youth ages 18-and-under will be admitted free of charge.

Links to live game coverage, including live audio, video and statistics, are available on UTAMavs.com. A live radio broadcast of the men's game against Coastal Carolina will be available throughout the DFW Metroplex on KEXB 620 AM and via the popular TuneIn app on smartphones and tablets.

Through a Learfield corporate sponsorship with Eskimo Hut, a Mavericks victory in any men's and women's basketball and baseball game this season provides fans a 20 percent discount on all purchases at the Arlington store located on Cooper Street near the UTA campus. "All of us here at Eskimo Hut are proud supporter of UTA Athletics and the Arlington community. We look forward celebrating UTA victories and assisting the community with all their celebration needs anytime of the year," said co-owner Mike Rittenberry.

Saturday's game will serve as the league opener for both teams and will be the first-ever Sun Belt Conference men's basketball contest for Coastal Carolina, which is entering its first-ever season in the conference.

UTA, voted by league coaches as the league favorites to win the Sun Belt regular season title, enters Saturday's game as one of the hottest teams in the country. The Mavericks own a 10-3 overall record and their 9-game win streak is tied for the second longest in program history and the 10th longest active streak in the country.

The Mavericks currently rank 20th in the country, according to the NCAA's official ratings percentage index (RPI), and own a 2-3 record against teams ranked among the top 100 in the nation. UTA's six road wins in non-conference play is tied for the most in the country this season.

The Mavs enter the game ranked second nationally, behind Gonzaga, in the Mid-Major Top 25 published weekly by CollegeInsider.com.

Although the Mavericks enter Saturday's game with a great deal of confidence, head coach Scott Cross knows that success in the Sun Belt, with nine teams that feature winning records, will be a challenge.

"Our focus is still where it was at the beginning of the year," said Cross. "This team has shown they are definitely capable of achieving their goals. That said, there are probably five to six other teams that are capable of winning the league. From the games I've watched, anybody in this league is capable of beating us if we don't play the right way every time we step on the court. If we take anything for granted or simply think we can show up and win, that's when we will fall short."

Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Kevin Hervey leads the Mavericks in scoring (13.7), rebounding (7.4) and free throw percentage (.821). The Arlington native owns four double-doubles this season and is coming off a 14-point, 13-rebound effort in the Mavs' win at Loyola Marymount.

Point guard Erick Neal, a preseason first team all-Sun Belt selection, leads the league in assists at 7.1 per game. He has distributed double-figures in assists three times this season, including 11 at LMU, and has scored in double-figures seven times.

Senior guard Jalen Jones has been one of the team's most consistent players during non-conference play, rating second in scoring (12.8), field goal percentage (.542) and 3-point percentage (.431). Backcourt mate Drew Charles is among the top 10 in the Sun Belt in 3-point percentage (.460) and 3-pointers per game (2.2).

Forward Jorge Bilbao rounds out the starting lineup that has featured in the team's last eight games. The Bilbao, Spain native has started every game the last two seasons and is averaging 6.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Coastal Carolina is 5-8 on the season and is coming off a 12-day break since suffering a heartbreaking 75-74 loss to in-state rival Wofford.

Senior Elijah Wilson leads the team and ranks fifth in the Sun Belt with 15.6 points per game, while junior Demario Beck averages a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game. Junior Jaylen Shaw is fifth in the Sun Belt in assists and leads the league at the free throw line, making 89.5 percent of his attempts.

The Chanticleers, led by longtime successful head coach Cliff Ellis, finished among the top four in the Big South Conference standings in each of the last seven seasons and won the 2010 and 2011 league titles. They also played in the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and 2015 and advanced to the CIT semifinals last year.

The Mavs remain at College Park Center on Monday, Jan. 2 for a 7 p.m. contest against Appalachian State. Single game, group and special multi-game package tickets are available by visiting UTATickets.com or calling the UTA Box Office during weekday business hours at (817) 272-9595.