The UT Arlington men's basketball team had a 17-game home win streak until Stephen F. Austin arrived at Texas Hall and snapped it last month.
The Mavericks got their payback Saturday in Nacogdoches, and in beating the Lumberjacks in convincing 75-65 fashion and handing SFA its only home loss this season, UTA got a whole lot more that just revenge. The Mavericks proved they could win on the road and secured a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament scheduled for March 13-16 in Katy.
UTA coach Scott Cross reminded his team before the game that, under most scenarios, it probably would take one victory in its final two regular-season games to secure the postseason. Cross asked his players: "Why not do it against the best team in the league and get it over with?"
They responded by pounding the ball inside to junior forward Anthony Vereen and hitting outside shots when Vereen kicked the ball back. Vereen scored 27 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. The guard combination of Rod Epps and Rog'er Guignard combined for 24 points.
Guignard was 4-for-6 from the 3-point line and became the single-season leader in 3-pointers made in UTA history. Guignard's fourth 3-pointer gave him 80 this year. Willie Brand - the only UTA player to have his number retired - had 77 in two different season. Guignard's 80th long-range jumper gave the Mavericks a 60-56 lead with 3:23 left in the game.
"It was an unbelievable all-around team effort," Cross said. "It was one of our best defensive efforts of the year. Anthony had the hot hand and our guys got the ball to him. It's a huge win. I don't know if they're the best team in the league, but they're certainly one of the best. They snapped our streak at home, and now we snapped theirs."
UTA (18-10, 7-8 SLC), whose 18 victories is third-most in school history, trailed the SLC West Division-leading Lumberjacks (23-4, 11-3) most of the first half, but the Mavericks climbed back in by outscoring the Lumberjacks, 8-1, to open the second.
In that run, Guignard hit a 3-pointer, and Larry Posey had a putback. A Jermaine Griffin block led to an Epps layup in transition. Epps was fouled on the play, hit the free throw, and the Mavericks had their first lead of the game, 35-34, with 18:36 left in the game.
From there, UTA's inside game led by Vereen and outside shooting of Guignard and Epps - they were 5-for-6 from long range in the second half - matched the Lumberjacks guard combo of Gerald Fonzie and Josh Alexander shot-for-shot. A putback by Vereen gave the Mavericks a 57-54 lead at the six-minute mark.
"We had about 30 loyal and loud fans who made the trip, and when we needed a stop, they gave us an added boost of energy," Cross said. "And our red-shirts on the bench helped keep everybody positive and focused throughout the game. Those two things were huge when we were battling late in the game."
UTA kept its four-point margin until two Vereen free-throws pushed it to 64-58 with 2:02 left. SFA missed on its next possession, and Larry Posey was fouled going up for the rebound. Posey hit both foul shots, and UTA started to celebrate with a 66-58 margin with 1:36 left.
UTA continued to frustrate the Lumberjacks on the perimeter, and the Mavericks hit their foul shots down the stretch to secure the win.
"My staff did an outstanding job preparing a game-plan to defend Stephen F. Austin, and the guys executed it to perfection," Cross said.
The Lumberjacks opened the game with a 16-8 run to put the Mavericks into an early hole, but UTA's inside game and dribble penetration got SFA leading scorer Alexander and post man Matt Kingsley into early foul trouble. Alexander played just 11 minutes in the first half after picking up his second foul with 11:49 left.
With Alexander on the bench, UTA went on a run and cut the SFA lead to 18-14 on an Anthony Vereen layup.
The teams traded baskets until a Jeremy Smith 3-pointer got the Mavericks as close as they had been since the opening minutes. Smith's long-range jumper from the left corner made it 24-21. Alexander, who had come back off the bench with two fouls, answered quickly with a 3 to make it 27-21. A layup by SFA backup center Benson Akpan made it 29-21 with 3:39 left in the half.
SFA pushed its lead back to nine, 33-24, on an Eric Bell layup with 1:20 left, and it appeared the Lumberjacks would keep the margin near double-digits into the halftime locker room. But a late spurt by the Mavericks closed the gap. Vereen was fouled going up for a defensive rebound and his one of two free throws.
Epps followed with a steal and layup to make it 33-27 with 15 seconds left in the half. SFA had one last shot, but UTA's defense held to provide the margin at the break.
