Jan. 4, 2007

The UT Arlington Mavericks open Southland Conference play Thursday when they host Central Arkansas at Texas Hall. Tip off is at 7 p.m. Central Arkansas (5-8) is in its first year in the SLC after moving up from Division II. The game is the first between the two programs.

UT Arlington (4-8) has dropped seven of eight games after an 84-52 loss at Texas on Tuesday. Junior center Jermaine Griffin (Houston, Texas) led the Mavs with his first double-double of the season (16 points, 12 rebounds).

Freshman Ro'ger Guignard made his seventh start of the season on Tuesday. He canned four 3-pointers for 12 points. Guignard needs just six more 3-pointers to move into the top 20 in single-season 3-pointers made.

Griffin ranks fourth in the NCAA in field goal percentage at 66.4% (71-of-107). His 27 blocked shots ranks 13th in a single season at UTA. The school record for blocked shots in a season is 43 by Paul Renfro in 1979-80.

UT Arlington has won seven its past 10 SLC openers. The Mavs suffered a 79-67 setback to eventual NCAA participant Northwestern State on Jan. 5, 2006, last season.