MAVS TRAVEL WEST TO FACE WYOMING
11/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2004
LARAMIE, Wyo. - The UTA Mavericks travel to Laramie, Wyo. to meet the University of Wyoming Cowboys for the first time in 13 seasons. Saturday's game tips off at 5 p.m. and can be heard on http://www.utamavs.com, UTA Radio and Arlington Comcast Cable Channel 98.
LAST TIME OUT: 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 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.
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.
THE SERIES: UTA won the only previous meeting, a 79-70 win in the opening round of the Wyoming Classic. The win was McCarter's first road win of his career.
RARE ROAD WINS: The win over New Mexico State was the eighth non-conference road win in McCarter's tenure. A look at previous non-conference road victories:
Score Opponent Date
88-67 New Mexico State 11/24/04
81-75 Texas-Pan American 11/29/03
61-60 Bradley 12/05/01
87-78 Air Force 12/19/98
51-44 Texas-Pan American 12/19/96
74-68 Cal State-Fullerton ^ 12/03/94
84-79 Alabama State* 12/03/03
79-70 Wyoming$ 12/27/92 $Wyoming Classic, *River City Classic, Cape Girardeau, Mo., ^ Fresno State Tournament
THOMAS TREMENDOUS: Junior forward Steven Thomas has been nothing short of tremendous during the first three games of the season. He is shooting a staggering 82.6 percent (19-of-23) from the field this season. Despite shooting an average of less than eight field goal attempts per game, he leads the team in scoring (17.7) and is second in rebounding (7.7 per game).
FAB FISH: The UTA freshman class continues to make an impact through three games.
Against New Mexico State, the freshman trio of Jermaine Griffin, Rodrick Epps and Larry Posey scored 23 of the Mavs first 28 points in the second half of an 88-67 win. The freshman group, which also includes guards Myles Guidry and Baron Sauls are averaging 31.9 points and 16.0.
DEFENSE DOING BETTER: After allowing 90 points for just the third time in 63 games in a 90-67 setback to TCU in the season, the UTA defense has tighten up on opposing offenses.
The Mavs have allowed 65.5 points per game in wins over Texas-Permian Basin and New Mexico State. The Mavs have held its last two opponents to 45.0 percent from the field and are out-rebounding them 36.0 to 26.5.
FAST START: A win over Wyoming would give UTA its best start since McCarter's first season in 1992-93. The Mavericks opened the 1992-93 year 4-0 en route to a 16-12 campaign. The Mavericks have started a season 3-1 just eight times since becoming a four-year institution in 1959-60.
ABOUT WYOMING: The Cowboys are 2-0 after a 64-59 double-overtime win over Princeton last Monday. The 2-0 start is the best since the 2000-01 season for the Cowboys.
Guard Steve Leven sank four three-pointers and scored a game-high 29 points. Alex Dunn had his fifth double-double of his career with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
UP NEXT: UTA returns home to face Texas Wesleyan Tuesday at 7 p.m. It is the 50th meeting between the Mavs and Rams. UTA will lower the banner for their 2004 SLC regular season championship prior to the game.
