Nov. 24, 2003
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Senior forward Kelsey Crooks canned two 3-pointers to spark a 21-5 run to lift New Mexico State past Texas-Arlington 72-62 at the Pan American Center Monday night in front of appromiately 5,000 fans.
Crooks and junior guard Allen Haynes led New Mexico State (2-0) in scoring with 16. Senior post James Moore had 14, Gary Jackson added 11 and Detruis Roberson finished with 10.
Texas-Arlington (0-2) was led by senior forward Derrick Obasohan's 18. Steven Thomas, Roy Johnson and Brady Dawkins all scored 12.
New Mexico State poured in three consecutive 3-pointers in a 1:40 span to erase a 36-33 UTA lead. Detruis Roberson's 3-pointer with 12:44 to play gave NMSU the lead for good, 38-36. The 3-pointers capped off a 21-5 run in which the Aggies took control of the game after a nip-and-tuck first half that saw NMSU take a 26-24 lead into intermission.
The Aggies built the lead to as many as 21 points, 64-43 following a layup by Moore with 5:32 to play.
UTA, who trailed by as many as eight in the first half, ended the half on an 8-2 run with layups by Obasohan, Johnson and Thomas a a jumper by Chris Hairfield.
UTA took its frst lead of the game when Dawkins canned one of his four second-half 3-pointers 44-seconds into the half for a 27-26 lead. Their were 10 lead changes over the next 7:16 of the game before NMSU began the decisive run.
"I thought we played with more intensity and got after some people tonight," said UTA Head Men's Basketball Coach Eddie McCarter. "We look at these game to preapre us for our conference. The effort was better and I thought we dd a beter job of protecting the ball in the second half. Although this is a loss, we can build off this game and try to get better."
UTA returns to action Saturday at New Mexico State. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. and can be heard live on UTA Radio (Comcast Channel 98-Arlington).
- utamavs.com -
New Mexico State 72, Texas-Arlington 62
Texas-Arlington (62) - Obasohan 7-11 4-6 18, Thomas 6-10 0-0 12, Johnson 4-6 4-6 12, Floyd 1-4 0-0 2, Howell 2-8 0-1 4, Dawkins 4-5 0-1 12, Hairfield 1-1 0-0 2, Neukomm 0-0 0-0 0, Henderson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 25-26 8-14 62.
New Mexico State (72) - Jones 1-5 1-2 3, Moore 6-12 2-3 14, Crooks 6-11 1-1 16, Haynes 6-10 1-2 16, Roberson 3-7 2-3 10, Davis 1-4 0-1 2, Jackson 4-4 2-2 11, Funston 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 27-54 9-14 72.
Halftime: NMSU 26, UTA 24. Three-point field goals: UTA 4-5 (Dawkins 4-5), NMSU 9-20 (Crooks 3-6, Haynes 36, Roberson 2-4, Jackson 1-1, Funston 0-1). Rebounds: UTA 29 (Johnson 8), NMSU 27 (Crooks 8). Assists: UTA 7 (Thomas, Johnson), NMSU 18 (Roberson 7). Turnovers: UTA 20 (Dawkins 5), NMSU 13 (Roberson 6). Blocks: UTA 2 (Johnson), NMSU 3 (Moore 2). Steals: UTA 7 (Thomas, Floyd and Howell 2), NMSU 8 (Crooks 3). Total fouls: UTA 14, NMSU 16. Fouled out: Crooks. Technical fouls: None.
