Jan. 29, 2005
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Watching an opponent rally from a 20-point halftime deficit was something UTA Head Coach Eddie McCarter had seen before.
McCarter experienced a bit of deja vu when McNeese State rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit to tie the game with 5:16 to play before pulling away in an 83-78 victory over the Cowboys in a Southland Conference game at Texas Hall Saturday afternoon.
UTA (10-8, 5-3) held off San Diego, 92-83, on Dec. 4, 2004, after the Toreros had overcome a 22-point halftime deficit to make it a two-point game before the Mavs held on for the win.
The SLC's leading scorer, Steven Thomas, scored nine of the Mavericks' final 13 points over the last 3:36 en route to a game-high 30 points. Jarrett Howell added 18 and Rodrick Epps canned five three-pointers for 15 points.
McNeese State (7-11, 2-5) was led in scoring by Kinley Sellers with 17, Aldryan Wardell with 14 and 13 from Ronald Dorsey.
The Cowboys used a full-court press in the second half to whittle down a 21-point halftime deficit. The Cowboys tied the game, 65-65, on a basket by Ryan Price with 5:01 to play. UTA responded with a 13-2 run over the next 2:59 to take a 78-67 lead after a Larry Posey basket with 2:02 to play. UTA made 9-of-12 free throws in the final 4:44 to preserve the win.
UTA jumped out an 11-1 lead in the first two minutes of the game thanks to three-point plays by Howell, Thomas and a three-pointer by Brady Dawkins, but McNeese State scored six straight points to close to within 14-9 after a put back by Wardell with 15:00 to play in the first half.
UTA stretched the lead back to 11, 20-9, after an Epps three-pointer with 14:21 to play, but MSU countered with seven straight points to close the gap to 20-16 after two John Ford free throws with 12:27 remaining in the half.
UTA then went on a 15-2 run over the next eight minutes for a 35-18 lead after an Epps three-pointer with 3:54 to play in the first half. UTA made 6-of-11 three-pointers in the opening half.
NOTES: ESPN announcer Fran Francilla made a visit to the Mavs' lockerroom during shoot-around practice Saturday morning... UTA improves to 7-2 at Texas Hall this season... Thomas moved into the top 25 in career scoring with a bucket with 6:44 to play in the first half... Thomas finished with 30 points and surpassed Sherman Evans (884) and Sam Norton (895) to move into 24th place all-time with 907 career points... Epps notched his fourth straight double-figure scoring game... The 21-point halftime lead was the largest since a 54-32 (22) edge against San Diego on Dec. 4, 2004... The three-game winning streak is the longest of the season.
