Dec. 4, 2004

Box Score

The UTA men's basketball team used a lightning-quick start, canning 10 of its first 11 field goals attempts and jumped out to a 17-point lead in the games' first 6:14 and then held off a furious San Diego rally in the second half to defeat the Toreros 92-83 at Texas Hall Saturday afternoon.

UTA (4-2) equals its best start through six games in the last 20 years. The Mavericks got 86 of its 92 points from the starting five - Steven Thomas (26), Jarrett Howell (20), Stephen Floyd (18), Jermaine Griffin (12) and Brady Dawkins (10).

UTA scored the game's first 10 points and made 10 of 11 field goals to 24-7 lead in the first 6:13 of the game. The lead swelled to 25, 53-28, after two Thomas free throws with 1:33 to play in the half.

"I thought our first half defense was the key to our early success," said UTA head coach Eddie McCarter. "We were able to create some easy shots and we were able to counter their size by attacking the basket."

"Oh sure, our team is trying to figure out how two win," said USD coach Brad Holland on the effect of the road losing streak on the team. "Until you start winning, it is going to have an effect.

"For the fourth time this season we have dug ourselves a hole we could not get out of due to a poor first-half performance. Our first half effort was so poor; we showed little purpose defensively."

USD went on a 14-3 run to open the second half to cut the 54-32 halftime deficit to 57-46 after a Vounang jumper with 15:40 to play.

A pesky trapping press converted 14 second-half turnovers into 17 points. USD used an 8-0 run in the final 4:00 to pull within two, 85-83, after a Melton three-pointer with 2:54 to play. But the Toreros missed its final six field goals and final four free throws down the stretch.

UTA made 38-of-47 free throws in the game (80.9 percent) and shot 60.0 percent from the field for the second time in four games.

UTA will return to play Dec. 15 at Texas. The game will be regionally televised on Fox Sport Net.

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