Nov. 19, 2004

Box Score

FORT WORTH, Texas - Texas-Arlington was held without a field goal for more than 11 minutes midway through the game as TCU turned a tight first half into a comfortable 90-61 victory in the season opener for both teams Friday night at Daniel Myer Coliseum.

TCU outscored UTA 17-5 in the first 8:12 of the second half to cruise to their ninth straight series win over the Mavs. The Mavs went 11:11 without a field spanned from a Larry Posey field goal with 2:00 left in the first half to trim the TCU lead to 38-28 to a Jarrett Howell lay up off a steal with 10:49 to play in the game that made it 61-36.

UTA was led in scoring by junior forward Steven Thomas with 19 points. Posey, a freshman, scored 10 points in his college debut. TCU had three players in double figures - senior guard Marcus Shropshire (21), forward Chude Chinweze (12) and Judson Stubbs (10).

Shropshire scored 15 first-half points as TCU pulled away to a 40-29 halftime lead. UTA used its entire roster in the first half as 12 players saw action. The Mavs, with five true freshmen suited up, had freshmen Baron Sauls, Rodrick Epps, Jermaine Griffin and Posey in the lineup at one time during the first half.

"We were pretty decent early in the game when we had Thomas and Jarrett on the floor. I think we stayed with them early, but when we had to substitute our freshman we just couldn't stay with them," said head coach Eddie McCarter. "They had a veteran basketball team and they just wore us down. The pressure finally got to us. Our kids will get better, it is just going to take time."

UTA used six points from Thomas in the opening minutes for a 9-7 lead after a Jarrett Howell three-pointer with 16:13 to play in the first half.

UTA will host Texas-Permian Basin Saturday at 7 p.m. at Texas Hall.