Jan. 6, 2005
Box Score
THIBODAUX, La. - It was a game of runs. Both teams took turns going on big offensive runs, but in the end it was Texas-Arlington's 9-0 run just past the midway point of the second half that propelled the Mavs to a 76-65 victory over Nicholls State Thursday evening at Stopher Gym.
The second half started just as the first half went with the Mavericks going on a 14-2 run in the first 4:15. Larry Posey got the run started with an inside basket off a good feed from Brady Dawkins. Dawkins followed it up with a three-pointer, before Stephen Floyd hit a jumper, Steven Thomas added three free throws and Posey hit his second shot of the half. When the run ended, UTA found itself ahead 49-35.
As was the case the entire game, NSU responded with a 16-1 run of its own to storm back and take a 53-52 lead at the 8:53 mark. Stefan Blaszczynski sparked the run with six points.
After going without a field goal for 8:10, Rodrick Epps put and end to the drought and gave the lead back to UTA for good with a triple from the left wing. His triple ignited the decisive 9-0 run as he followed it up with a putback underneath, and Jarrett Howell hit a pair of charity shots before the run ended with a pair of Epps freebies.
A pair of three-pointers just a few minutes later would help put the dagger into the Colonels. With UTA ahead by six, Howell took the inbounds pass with two seconds on the shot clock and hit a three to push the advantage to nine. NSU would battle back to within four points before Dawkins would step back and knock in another triple.
The Mavs never allowed NSU to get any closer as the inside play of Thomas and Posey and the free throw shooting of Dawkins propelled the Mavs to the 76-65 victory.
Stephen Floyd got the offense rolling as after hitting a short jumper, he canned back-to-back three pointers to give the Mavs an early 8-2 advantage. Steven Thomas added to the good start as he stole the ball near mid-court and threw it down to push the lead to eight.
The Colonels would respond with a run of their own as Willie Depron scored four points and BJ Searles completed a three-point play and NSU held a 13-11 advantage. Brady Dawkins ended the run with a triple and a Kenneth Henderson free throw knotted the score 15-15 with 10:09 left in the half.
NSU (5-7, 0-1 SLC) continued the half of run's with an 8-0 run sparked by back-to-back three pointers from Jason Wilkins, only to be answered immediately by an 18-5 UTA run.
Jarrett Howell started the run with a layup and followed it up with a triple. Brady Dawkins tied the game up with a sweet reverse layup on the baseline and then resorted to his specialty by knocking in a three-pointer on the next possession.
The Colonels clawed back and when Stefan Blaszczynski finished strong baseline drive with a jam, NSU led 35-33 with a minute to play.
The Mavs (6-5, 1-0 SLC) closed out the first half with Thomas hitting an inside shot and Henderson putting back a missed shot as time expired to send the teams to recess with UTA ahead 37-35.
Thomas and Dawkins each finished with 18 points, while Thomas had a career-high 14 rebounds. Dawkins 18 points were a career-high. Howell and Floyd were also in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively. Blaszczynski led NSU with 19 points.
The Mavs close out the road trip on Jan. 8 against Southeastern Louisiana. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the University Center.
