March 13, 2008
Final Stats
KATY, Texas- - When the UT Arlington men's basketball team upset Southland Conference West Division champion Stephen F. Austin two weeks ago, Maverick players said that game proved they could beat anybody in the league.
Thursday afternoon in the first round of the 2008 SLC Tournament, they proved it again.
UTA, boosted by a career-high 24 points from senior guard Rod Epps and 20 from senior center Jermaine Griffin, knocked West Division champion Lamar out of the tournament with an 81-75 victory at the Merrell Center in Katy. No. 7 seed UTA (19-11) took control of the game with an 11-2 run midway through the second half, then held on when second-seeded Lamar (19-11) charged back to make it 77-75 with 1:20 left.
UTA senior center Larry Posey sank two free throws with 45 seconds left to give UTA some breathing room. Epps put the game away with two at the 28-second mark.
"That shows the focus these players had today," said UTA second-year coach Scott Cross, who earned his first SLC Tournament victory. "When we were faced with some adversity, the guys kept their focus and wouldn't let it slip away. It's a tribute to these seniors, the way we got the lead late and kept it. This is a big win for us. Now, we just have to keep going."
With the victory, the Mavericks advance to the second round at 6 p.m. Friday against Sam Houston State, who defeated McNeese State in overtime Thursday afternoon in the first round.
The Mavericks had faced Lamar only once this season - an 80-66 loss in Beaumont - in a game where UTA trailed by more than 20 minutes by the midway point of the first half. This time, UTA turned the tables and started the game with a 16-5 run. Lamar eventually caught UTA by forcing turnovers and converting on the offensive end.
When a layup by Justin Nabors fell through, Lamar had their biggest lead of the first half, 36-31, with 3:35 left. UTA responded by closing the half with an 11-5 run. In that span, Epps had a 3-pointer and a layup. Griffin added four points on baskets inside.
"That gave us a lot of momentum, getting the game tied by halftime," said Epps, who was 9-for-13 from the field and 4-for-5 from the 3-point line. "We knew we needed to answer their run with one of our own."
The teams stayed even through the second half until UTA finally delivered what turned out to be the decisive blow.
Leading 62-58, the Mavericks went on an 11-2 run - capped by a perfectly-run play on an inbounds pass. The throw went from Cardell Hunter to Epps, who hit Rog'er Guignard coming off a screen on the right wing. Guignard nailed the 3-pointer, and UTA was up 73-60 with 7:49 left.
From there, UTA had trouble with Lamar's press. But the Cardinals missed on their final two possessions in a comeback effort.
UTA's inside combination of Griffin, Anthony Vereen and Posey finished with 40 points and 18 rebounds. UTA beat Lamar on the boards, 38-29.
Kenny Dawkins led Lamar with 19 points as five Cardinal players scored in double-figures.
"They're a very physical team; they keep pounding the ball inside over and over until they get something out of it," Cardinals forward Lamar Sanders said. "With Posey, Vereen and Griffin, they're very strong inside."
