Nov. 25, 2006

EDINBURG, Texas - The UT Arlington Mavericks will complete a rare back-to-back game against the same foe as they face Texas-Pan American at the UTPA Fieldhouse Monday.

UT Arlington (3-1) defeated Texas-Pan American 76-79 at Texas Hall on Nov. 21.

UTA rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second half en route to the win. A 16-2 run in the second half was the deciding factor as UTA shot 59.3 percent (16 of 27) from the field in the final 20 minutes.

The Mavs used their strength inside, scoring 54 of their 76 points in the paint.

Junior center Jermaine Griffin (Houston, Texas) rebounded from a sub-par game at TCU with 14 second-half points and a team-high 21. Sophomore Anthony Vereen (Houston, Texas) posted his fourth straight double figure scoring game with 16 points. Junior point guard Rodrick Epps (Richardson, Texas) had 10 points.

The Mavs continue pursuit of their best start in school history when the Mavs went 7-1 in the first eight games of the 1980-81 season. That season, UTA made its only postseason tournament appearance when the Mavs met South Alabama in the NIT.

The 1992-93 squad opened the season 4-0, but lost the next game at Alabama-Birmingham. A 4-1 start would match the best start through five games.

UTA returns to Texas Hall Nov. 30 versus Austin College.

THE SERIES
Texas-Pan American has dominated the series since 1959, winning 15 of 21 meetings. However, UT Arlington has won the past four meeting, including a 76-79 win at Texas Hall on Nov. 21.

Previously, UTA played UTPA twice in a season during the 2003-04 season. The Mavs posted two wins during their tri-SLC champion season. UTA won 81-75 in Edinburg on Nov. 29, 2003, and also claimed a 73-54 win Jan. 21, 2004, at Texas Hall. Eight of the last nine games in the series have been decided by eight points or less.

The rare six day gap between meetings is not uncommon with this series. Eight times the schools have played a home-and-home in a season. In 1971, only five days separated the games with UTPA winning at Edinburg, 103-89, and UTA winning at Texas Hall on Jan. 21, 1971, 101-82.

TEAM CONCEPT
Scott Cross has used the team concept through the first four regular-season games. Eight players are averaging double-figure minutes and four are scoring in double-figures - Jermaine Griffin (16.5), Larry Posey (13.8), Anthony Vereen (16.5) and Rodrick Epps (12.0). Six different players have scored double figures this season.

CARDELL COMES THROUGH
Freshman guard Cardell Hunter (Dallas, Texas) scored a career-high eight points in the first half of the Mavs' win over Texas-Pan American.

MAVERICKS ON THE COURT, TIGERS OFF
The UT Arlington men's basketball team may be Mavericks on the court, but for a day they were Tigers off the hardwood. The Mavericks spent last Friday visiting with student at Thornton Elementary School in Arlington on Nov. 17. The visit has become an annual visit where players and coaches deliver motivational talks and signs autographs for the students.

POWER IN THE PAINT
The inside game of the Mavericks has been a strength so far this season. The inside starting trio of Jermaine Griffin, Anthony Vereen and Larry Posey are averaging collective 46.8 points and 21.0 rebounds per game. Griffin (72.2%), Vereen (63.2%) and Posey (55.3%) are shooting better than 50% from the field and the three have combined to make 67.6% (42 of 62) from the foul line.

THE LITTLE GENERAL
Freshman guard Ro'ger Guignard has been the biggest surprise of the season for the Mavs. A true freshman from Mesquite Horn High School, Guignard is shooting 41.9 percent from 3-point range (13 of 31) and has just three turnovers in 141 minutes of play.

HOME GROWN
Twelve players hail from Texas on the UT Arlington roster. Only sophomore guard Brandon Long (Richton Park, Ill.) is from out of state. Sophomore forward Anthony Vereen is originally from Hammond, La., but played at Gulf Shores Academy in Houston before signing to play for the Mavericks.

THE HUNT FOR 100
UT Arlington has scored 100 or more points in just two of the past 311 games. The last 100-point game was a 103-45 win over Hardin Simmons on Dec. 29, 2001, at Texas Hall.

HOT FROM THE FIELD
UT Arlington has shot better than 50 percent from the field in all three wins this season. The Mavs made 46.7 % in a double-over-time loss at TCU. For the year, UTA is shooting 53.1 percent from the field.

The last time UTA shot 50 percent from the field was 1981-82 when the Mavs made a school-record 52.6 percent from the field. UTA has shot better than 50 percent from the field just twice since 1959.

Individually, six players are shooting better than 50% - Cardell Hunter (87.5%), Jermaine Griffin (72.2%), Anthony Vereen (63.2%), Larry Posey (55.3%), Tommy Moffitt (52.4%) and Matt Read (50.0%).

DISHING THE ROCK
UT Arlington guards Ro'ger Guignard and Rodrick Epps have spread the ball during the first four games. Guignard and Epps have combined for 30 assists.

ROAD WINS RARE FOR MAVS
UT Arlington looks for its second road win of the season at Texas-Pan American. With six of their next seven games on the road, the Mavs can make a statement with some wins away from Texas Hall. UTA has not won more than six away games since the 1990-91 season when the Mavs went 8-7. UT Arlington has posted a winning records on away games twice in program history - 1980-81 and 1990-91.

COLD FROM OUTSIDE
UT Arlington was limited to one 3-point field goals (1 of 11) during the Mavs' 76-69 win over Texas-Pan American Nov. 21. The 1 for 11 effort tied for seventh lowest 3-point goal percentage in a game.

PUTTING IT ON THE LINE
UTA looks to steady their foul shooting. The Mavs are shooting 62.2 percent from the line (61 of 98). UTA has shot lower than 50% from the line in two of the four games this season. UTA made just 12 of 22 (54.5%) versus UT-Tyler and 11 of 24 (45.8%) at TCU. UTA shot a season-best 76.7% (23 of 30) at North Texas on Nov. 15.

INJURIES
UTA reports no injuries.

NEXT GAME
UT Arlington returns to Texas Hall to face Austin College Thursday at 7 p.m.

PROMOTION
The UTA Athletics Food Drive continues with fans able to receive a reserve ticket at half price with the donation of three canned goods at the UTA-Austin College game. UTA students who donated three canned goods will be entered into a drawing for an Ipod Nano. The drawing will take place at halftime of the game and students must be present to win.