March 7, 2003
Arlington, Texas...Steven Thomas hit a free throw with five seconds remaining on the clock and Derrick Obasohan scored a career high 27 points as The University of Texas at Arlington won a double overtime thriller 85-84 over Louisiana-Monroe in a Southland Conference men's basketball game at Texas Hall in Arlington Friday.
UTA (16-12, 13-7 SLC) found itself trailing 32-30 at halftime, but came back to build a 10-point advantage, 61-51, at the 6:35 mark. The Indians (12-15, 10-10) clawed back into the game as UTA used its last time out with 3:41 left in regulation. With UTA leading 67-66, the Mavericks' Donny Beacham hit two free throws with 26 seconds on the clock. But ULM's Brandon Horn nailed a three pointer with 10 seconds on the clock and the Mavericks couldn't score, sending the game into what would turn out to be the first of two overtime periods.
UTA scored six of the first eight points in the first overtime period to go ahead 75-71. But the Indians' Mark Keith hit a three pointer with 23 seconds remaining to cut UTA's lead to 75-74. A personal foul charged to ULM's Reggie Griffin sent Obasohan to the free throw line. Obasohan sent a gasp through the crowd of 1,214 when he missed the first attempt. He hit the second free throw to give UTA a 76-74 advantage with 17 seconds on the clock. ULM got the ball to halfcourt and called timeout, giving head coach Mike Vining a chance to get the ball to Horn again. Horn delivered with five seconds left to tie the score at 76 points apiece and send the game to a second overtime.
Like in the first overtime, the Mavericks went ahead by four points in the second overtime, going up by two baskets on two occasions. But after Keith Howell's two free throws gave UTA an 82-78 advantage with 2:23 on the clock, ULM answered with back-to-back jumpers by Horn and Kirby Lemons to tie the score with 1:38 to play.
UTA was able to get control of the ball again, and took another lead when Obasohan's basket with 38 seconds gave the Mavs an 84-82 advantage. But the Indians' assassin, Horn, would strike again, nailing a jump shot with 15 seconds on the clock that would tie the score and set up Thomas' heroics.
Thomas, a freshman, was sent to the line after being fouled by Wayne Bransom with just five ticks on the clock. The first free throw bounced off the rim, but the Fort Worth Dunbar product would step up and hit his second free throw. The Indians were able to get the ball one last time to Horn, but his shot at the buzzer missed.
The win was the fourth straight for UTA, and the 10th in its past 12 games. The regular season finale marked the first overtime game the Mavericks have played all year.
Obasohan also hauled in nine rebounds, just missing a double-double. He was one of five Mavericks in double figures, marking the first time this season UTA has had that many players score at least 10 points in the same game. The Mavericks are now 7-0 when at least four players hit twin figures.
Keith Howell played 49 of the game's 50 minutes, and scored 16 points. Roy Johnson scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists. Mack Callier and Thomas each scored 11 points. Callier, entering the game needing 11 rebounds to tie UTA's all-time rebounding record, had four rebounds. Callier fouled out in just 23 minutes of action. He is now tied for second on the all time rebounding chart with former teammate Bill Washington. Callier and Washington each own 844 career rebounds.
Thomas did rack up a double-double, adding 10 rebounds to his 11-point performance.
Kirby Lemons led ULM with 24 points. He was joined in double figures by Indian teammates Mark Keith, who scored 18 points; Chavis "Tank" Thompson, who scored 15; and Horn, who scored 11.
The Mavericks finished the regular season in third place in the SLC standings, and will take a No. 3 seed into Monday night's first round game of the Southland Conference Tournament presented by Audiovox against McNeese State. The Cowboys own the No. 6 seed. Tipoff for the game at Texas Hall is set for 7 p.m.
...utamavericks...
