FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 17, 2016

STEPHENVILLE, Texas—Tarleton State University senior point guard Michael Hardge advances to the Elite Eight of the Dark Horse Dunker contest and needs votes to proceed to the semifinal round of the contest.

Hardge’s fan support was enough to advance him past Army West Point’s Tanner Plomb in the opening round of the contest. Hardge had the highest margin of victory among the first round matchups, 62.5 to 37.5 percent. He now faces Devaughn Akoon-Purcell from Illinois State University with a trip to the semifinals on the line.

Online voting resumes immediately at DarkhorseDunker.com in a bracket-style process over the next three weeks. Hardge will be paired against another competitor for one week of voting and continue through the bracket as long as votes pour in.

Should Hardge win the online voting competition, he will claim the final roster spot in the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Contest live on ESPN on March 31, part of Final Four Weekend in Houston.

Hardge’s video can be seen on TarletonSports.com or on YouTube.

Fans are encouraged to share the video and voting information on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms during the competition. Only votes obtained at darkhorsedunker.com will count toward the contest.

A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of nearly 17,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. True to Tarleton’s values of excellence, integrity and respect, academic programs emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.