Nov. 11, 2006

Box Score

UT Arlington hit 19 of their first 24 field goals in the second half to pull away from UT-Tyler 87-59 in the season opener for the Mavericks and hand new head coach Scott Cross his first collegiate victory.

UTA (1-0) had five players in double figures. Junior center Jermaine Griffin and Sophomore forward Anthony Vereen led the Mavs with 17 points each. Junior forward Larry Posey and freshman forward Tommy Moffitt chipped in 14 and freshman guard Ro'ger Guignard added 10.

Brandon Weasby and Jake White led UT-Tyler (0-1) with 13 points each and Anthony Reese added 10.

The win was just the second season-opening victory in the last 12 seasons and the first since UT Arlington defeated Texas Wesleyan 86-78 in 2000.

Leading 53-31 with 15:11 remaining in the game, UT Arlington went on a 27-7 run over the next 10:03 to lead 80-48 after a Griffin jumper with 5:08 to play. UT-Tyler was held to four field goals the first 15 minutes of the second half as the Mavs made the decisive run.

"I thought our depth became a factor in the second half," said Cross. "When Ro'ger is able to hit a couple of threes in the game, it really opens things up for the others."

UT Arlington scored 26 points off 18 turnovers and outscored the Patriots 40-16 in the paint.

Eight different players scored as UT Arlington built a 39-28 lead at halftime lead. Griffin (9), Vereen (8) and Moffitt (7) led the Mavs in the first 20 minutes.

NOTES: UT Arlington hit 60.0 percent from the field for the game. Ironically, the Mavs school record for single-game field goal shooting came against UT-Tyler in 2004 when they shot 72.3 percent (34-of-47). The shooting was the best since the Mavs shot 60.3 percent at San Diego last season... Vereen posted his first career double-double with 10 rebounds to go with his 17 points... Griffin set a career high with five blocked shots and ties for fourth most in a single game in UTA history.