Feb. 9, 2007
LAKE CHARLES, La. -
UTA-McNeese State game notes
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A game featuring two middle-of-the-pack teams in the Southland Conference standings has huge playoff implications as UT Arlington faces McNeese State Saturday afternoon at Burton Coliseum here.
UT Arlington has won four of its past five games, including a gut-wrenching 76-74 win over Lamar at Texas Hall on Thursday. Last Saturday, UTA outlasted Texas State 110-103 in San Marcos. It was the highest scoring SLC game since Louisiana-Monroe defeated UT-San Antonio 107-104 in overtime on Feb. 17, 2001.
The Mavs have started three freshmen - Matt Read, Cardell Hunter and Ro'ger Guignard - during their current three-game winning streak.
A win Saturday would leapfrog the Mavs past the Cowboys in the SLC standings for sixth place. The top eight teams advance to the SLC tournament, March 8-11, at the Campbell Center in Aldine.
Guignard is making a strong case for Southland Conference freshman of the year honors. The Mesquite native leads the league's freshmen with 10.5 points per game. He could become the first Maverick to average in double figures as a freshman since Bill Washington in 1996-97. His 53 3-pointers ranks 17th in the single-season list.
Junior center Jermaine Griffin ranks ninth nationally and leads the Southland Conference in field-goal percentage with 63.7% (130-204) and 45th in blocked shots with 2.0 per game. His 47 blocks is a single-season record at UTA, breaking the old mark of 43 by Paul Renfro in 1979-80.
Sophomore forward Anthony Vereen is making 72.3% from the field (34-of-47) in SLC play.
