Jan. 10, 2004
ARLINGTON, Texas - Sophomore forward Steven Thomas scored a career-high 30 points as Texas-Arlington defeated Texas-San Antonio 85-64 in a Southland Conference contest Saturday at Texas Hall.
The win snapped a five-game losing streak for UTA (5-7, 1-1) while UTSA dropped to 5-9 overall and 0-1 in the SLC.
Thomas became the 21st player in school history to score 30 points in a game. It was the most points since Steven Barber scored 43 against UTSA on Jan. 24, 2002. Senior guard Keith Howell poured in 18 points and freshman guard Stephen Floyd scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half. UTSA was led by LeRoy Hurd with 24 points.
UTA, ranked second in the NCAA in free throw shooting at 78.7%, pulled away from UTSA in the first eight minutes of the second half, hitting 12 of 14 free throws for a 55-32 lead after two Howell free throws with 12:07 to play.
"I thought the change in lineup gave us the energy we have been lacking lately," said UTA head coach Eddie McCarter. "We were more aggressive in every phase of the game."
"By far this is the best UTA team that I have seen," said UTSA head coach Tim Carter. "Steven Thomas plays with a lot of heart and he flat kicked our tail tonight. He and the Mavericks were very impressive."
UTSA went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 57-42, but back-to-back baskets by Steven Thomas and a Jarrett Howell layup off a steal gave UTA a 63-42 lead with 8:41 to play.
UTSA rallied again with back-to-back jumpers by Rapheal Posey to cut the lead to 63-50 with 6:28 to play, but Derrick Obasohan countered with a 3-point play with 6:07 left.
The Mavericks scored the first 10 points in the game and led 37-24 at halftime. UTA out-rebounded UTSA 21-11.
UTA returns to action Thursday at Texas State. UTSA travels to Hammond, La. to meet Southeastern Louisiana.
NOTES: Thomas became the 21st player in school history to score 30 points in a game.
Texas-Arlington 85, Texas-San Antonio 64
Texas-San Antonio (5-9, 0-1) - Hurd 7-12 9-12 24, Fuqua 1-1 0-0 2, Attaway 1-10 1-2 4, President 2-5 2-2 6, Posey 3-9 0-0 9, Harbert 1-4 0-1 3, Cole 0-3 3-4 3, Millsap 6-12 1-2 13, Hall 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-56 16-23 64.
Texas-Arlington (5-7, 1-1) Beacham 2-4 1-3 5, Obasohan 4-10 1-1 9, Thomas 7-9 16-17 30, Floyd 4-10 4-4 15, K. Howell 5-6 8-10 18, J. Howell 1-4 0-0 2, Johnson 2-4 0-0 4, Neukomm 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 25-47 32-37 85.
Halftime: UTA 37. UTSA 24. Three-point field goals: UTSA 6-19 (Posey 3-6, Hurd 1-3, Attaway 1-5, Harbert 1-2, Cole 0-1, President 0-2), UTA 3-12 (Floyd 3-7, Beacham 0-1, Obasohan 0-3, J. Howell 0-1). Rebounds: UTSA 26 (Millsap 9), UTA 39 (Beacham 13). Assists: UTSA 14 (President 7), UTA 14 (Beacham 5). Turnovers: UTSA 16 (Attaway, Hurd 4), UTA 14 (Beacham 5). Blocks: UTSA 3 (Millsap, President, Posey), UTA 3 (Thomas 2). Steals: UTSA 9 (President 7), UTA 8 (Beacham, Thomas 3). Total fouls: UTSA 30, UTA 19. Fouled out: Fuqua, Cole. Technical fouls: None. Att. 687.
