Nov. 21, 2006

Box Score

Jermaine Griffin and Anthony Vereen combined for 26 second-half points to lead UT Arlington to a come-from-behind 76-69 victory over Texas-Pan American in men's basketball play Tuesday night.

UT Arlington (3-1) matches its best start since 1992-93. The Mavericks were led in scoring by Griffin with 21 points. Vereen posted his fourth double figure scoring game of the season with 16 points and Rodrick Epps added 10.

Brian Burrell led UTPA (4-1) with 21 points. Zach Trader added 13, Julius Allgood had 12 and Dexter Shankle chipped in 11.

Texas-Pan American slowed the UT Arlington offense to 10 points below their season average with a deliberate game plan that limited UTA to four points in transition. But the Mavs used their strong inside game to score 54 points in the paint to wear down the Broncs.

UTPA opened the second on a 6-2 run and led 36-32 after a Burrell 3-pointer in transition with 18:12 to play. The Broncs stretched the lead to 48-41 before the Mavs went on a 16-2 run to take a 57-50 lead after a Terrell Henry bucket in the paint with 9:59 left to play.

UT Arlington shot 59.3 percent (16 of 27) from the field in the second half and made 11 of 14 free throws in the final 5:48 to seal the win.

In the first half, Texas-Pan American shot 58.8% (10 of 17) from the field in the first 12:30 of the game to build a 26-21 lead after a 3-pointer by Shankle. UTPA led 32-21 at halftime behind 11 points from Trader and 10 from Allgood. Freshman guard Cardell Hunter (Dallas, Texas) scored a career high eight points in the first half to keep the Mavs within striking distance.

UT Arlington will meet Texas-Pan American next Monday in Edinburg. Tip off is at 7 p.m.