Nov. 24, 2004
Box Score
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - For the UTA Mavericks it was the "Shock Heard 'Round the World."
The UTA Mavericks shot 71.6 percent from the field in the second half and cruised to a stunning 88-67 win over New Mexico State at the Pan American Center here Wednesday night.
Five players scored in double figures for UTA. Junior forward Steven Thomas led with 16 points. Freshman post Larry Posey scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half. Jarrett Howell (14), Jermaine Griffin (11) and Stephen Floyd (10) also scored in double figures to lead the Mavs to their first win over NMSU in 11 meetings.
NMSU (2-2) was led by reserve center Trevor Lawrence with a game-high 24 points. Josh Jenkins added 11.
UTA (2-1) finished the game shooting 62.5 percent from the field (35 of 56) as they continually beat the Aggies defense for easy shots inside the paint.
"It was the best I've seen these young men play since we all came together," said head coach Eddie McCarter. "I thought Griffin, Posey and Epps played really, really big for us.
"I thought Brady Dawkins did an excellent job of running the team. Jarrett (Howell) and Steven (Thomas) came through like veterans. This was a tremendous win for us."
UTA silenced the sparse Pan American Center crowds in the first half, building a 16-point lead, 40-24 after Stephen Floyd follow shot with 1:20 to play.
The Mavericks played near flawless basketball in the opening half to stake a 42-31 halftime lead. Jarrett Howell and Steven Thomas scored 12 points each.
UTA took the lead for good, 7-6, on a pair of Howell free throws with 17:35 left in the first half.
Freshmen Posey, Griffin and Epps scored 23 of the team's first 28 second-half points.
After NMSU cut the lead to 47-39 with back-to-back three-pointers by Mike Mitchell and Jenkins, the Mavs went on a 15-8 run to stretch the lead to 62-47 after an Epps lay up with 10:42 to play. The lead swelled to 23 points, 80-57, after a Posey layup.
UTA returns to action Saturday at Wyoming. Tipoff is at 5 p.m. (CT). The game can be heard on UTA Radio and on Arlington Comcast Cable Channel 98.
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