Jan. 10, 2007
UTA at Nicholls State game notes
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The UT Arlington junior center Jermaine Griffin hopes to show he has matured into one of the top big men as he and the rest of the Mavericks meet Nicholls State in a Southland Conference match up Thursday. Tip off is at 6:30 p.m. at Stopher Gym in Thibodaux. The game will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable Channel 99.
The game will be a unique doubleheader carried at the same time on UTA radio. Bobby Anderson will deliver the men's first half and then David Mannering will call the women's match up against the Lady Colonels at approximately 7 p.m. The station will switch back to the men's game in the second half and upon conclusion the remainder of the women's game will be broadcast.
Griffin has taken the lead role in the Mavs' offense over the last eight games. He is scoring 16.7 points during the stretch, including a dominating 22-point, 14-rebound performance against Northwestern State on Saturday at Texas Hall.
The Mavs' back court combo of Ro'ger Guignard, Rodrick Epps, Brandon Long and Cardell Hunter look to get untracked. The group is shooting 32.1 percent (42-of-131) and averaging 26.6 points and 10.2 turnovers per game over the last five games.
UTA has won the last seven meetings over the Colonels. The last NSU win was a 59-53 decision on Jan. 11, 2003.
THE SERIES
UT Arlington has won the past seven meetings with Nicholls State and leads the all-time series, 22-15.
UTA has won 11 of 18 games played at Stopher Gym, including 78-63 win on Feb. 23, 2006. The Mavs canned a season-high 13 3-pointers en route to the win.
The last NSU win was a 59-53 decision on Jan. 11, 2003.
Nicholls State (22 to 15), Northwestern State (25 to 20) and Southeastern Louisiana (16 to 3) are the only SLC schools the Mavs have a series advantage.
GRIFFIN LEADS NATION
Junior center Jermaine Griffin is ranked fourth nationally in field-goal percentage hitting 65.6% (86 of 131) from the field. He is tied for 32nd in blocked shots with 2.4 per game.
Griffin sits in third place in career blocked shots at UTA with 83. He trails Mack Callier (84 blocks in 111 games) and needs two blocks to tie Roy Johnson for the Mavs' all-time record.
KID COACH
First-year head coach Scott Cross is the third youngest coach in Division I. Indiana-Fort Wayne coach Dane Fife is 27. Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel and Cross are both 31 years old.
TEAM WORK
Scott Cross has used the team concept through the first 13 regular-season games. Two are scoring in double-figures - Jermaine Griffin (14.4) and Anthony Vereen (11.2).
Seven different players have scored double figures this season.
SCOUTING THE COLONELS
Nicholls State continues to be the great mystery of the Southland Conference this season. With four starters and eight lettermen returning from a year ago, the Colonels have just one win this season.
NSU played a difficult non-conference schedule with Mississippi State, Washington, Pepperdine, Texas, Mississippi, Auburn and Vanderbilt handing losses to the Colonels. NSU dropped a 74-71 decision to North Texas on Dec. 9.
Senior Stefan Blaszczynski (photo right) missed the first six games of the season but has averaged 19.6 points per game since his return. Adonis Gray (13.8) and Ryan Bathie (11.1) are also scoring in double figures, but the remainder of the team is chipping in a collective 31.0 points per game.
NSU ranks second in the SLC and 30th in the nation in free-throw percentage with 72.9% (202 of 277).
