Nov. 16, 2008

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ARLINGTON, Texas - The UT Arlington men's basketball team opened its season with an 84-64 victory over Hardin-Simmons on Saturday night in front of 898 fans at Texas Hall. The Mavericks had five players score in double figures - led by junior guard Brandon Long's 18 - while using a 57 percent shooting effort in the second half to win their third straight season-opener, which is a new school record.

The Mavs (1-0) jumped out to a 20-point lead, 31-11, at the 8:51 mark in the first half after an 11-0 run during a five minute span which gave UT Arlington its largest lead in the first half.

"It was the first real game in front of fans for a lot of guys," third-year UT Arlington head coach Scott Cross said. "We did some good things and some bad things, like every game. In general we did a good job executing."

Hardin-Simmons then cut the Mavs' lead to seven points while holding UT Arlington scoreless over five minutes of play to trail 33-27 with 4:06 until halftime.

A slam dunk by junior Marquez Haynes ended the scoring drought for the Mavericks, as UT Arlington closed the first half on a 9-2 run to grab a 42-29 lead going into the locker rooms at halftime.

Long led all players at the break with nine points, while Haynes and junior forward Tommy Moffitt added eight points in the first half.

UT Arlington quickly stretched its lead to 22 points (57-35) early in the second half as Long and senior post Anthony Vereen scored back-to-back buckets in the paint before Vereen completed an old-fashioned three-point play by knocking down a free throw.

Vereen, the 2008 Southland Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, finished with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and led all players shooting 6-of-9 from the free throw line.

"It is nice knowing we have so many shooters around me," Vereen said. "When they throw the ball inside to me I try to be a strong inside presence. I also know that if they double (team) I have so many shooters around me I can pass to any one of them."

The Mavericks shot 52 percent (31-for-60) from the field, including 6-of-19 from long range. Long led the Mavs with three 3-pointers and a game-high 18 points.

After suffering a season-ending injury last season in only the ninth game of the season, Long was anxious to make his 2008-09 season debut.

"I was just really excited to get back out there with the team," Long said. "I just want to make sure I do my part on the defensive end first, the scoring will come because we have such a good offensive team."

Long was one of six Mavs with a steal and he also finished with four rebounds in 29 minutes of action.

Haynes made his UT Arlington debut scoring 10 points with six rebounds and two steals. Haynes, a junior, transferred to UT Arlington from Boston College last season and did not play during the Mavericks run to the NCAA Tournament.

Junior-college transfer J.D. Davis made his presence felt with two of the Mavs' four dunks, while tallying 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting in his first game in a Mavericks uniform.

The Cowboys were led by Rob Yeatts (14 points, 4-of-11 three-pointers) and Aaron Thornton (12 points, 10 rebounds).

UT Arlington will remain at home on Tuesday, Nov. 18, taking on Texas Wesleyan for a 7 p.m. tip-off at Texas Hall.