Jan. 31, 2009

UTA-Texas State Box Score

ARLINGTON, Tx. - Someone once said that the more things change the more they stay the same.

Nothing was truer in UT Arlington's 80-78 loss to Texas State Saturday at Texas Hall.

Last week the Mavericks lost at Sam Houston and turnovers and allowing offensive rebounds were the main factors in the loss. Saturday's game was no different as Texas State had 12 offensive rebounds that they turned into 18 second chance points and took advantage of 17 UTA turnovers as they turned that into 25 points.

"Those are the only two stats you have to look at," said UTA head coach Scott Cross. "You are not going to win many games when you allow that many second chance points and turn the ball over that much."

While those areas were problems for the Mavericks, they were in the game until the very end.

Texas State led by eight with 11 minutes to go at 59-51. The Mavericks then worked to chip away at that lead with a barrage of 3-pointers by Roge'r Guignard and the solid inside play of senior Anthony Vereen.

Guignard hit 3 3-pointers and Vereen kept making layups or free throws as the Mavericks tied the game just four minutes later at 68. Texas State took the lead right after that and held it until Vereen converted a 3-point play to give the Mavs a 78-76 lead with 1:32 to go.

Texas State's Corey Jefferson made two free throws with 1:16 to play to tie the game. After that the turnover bug hit the Mavericks.

Marquez Haynes was called for a travel with 55 seconds to go. From there the Mavericks played good defense on the Bobcats possession as they forced a shot as the shot clock was running out.

Jonathan Sloan's shot was no good and Brent Benson swooped in for the rebound and he wasted no time in throwing in a 10-foot runner in the lane to give the Bobcats the lead with 15 seconds to play.

After a timeout, the Mavericks had their last chance. Marquez Haynes ended up taking a 15-foot jumper from the right wing and when it bounced out the Mavs had lost at home for the first time this season and Texas State had earned their first win on the road this year.

"We ran a play at the end that we use a lot," said Cross. "When the play broke down, Marquez did his best to create something but the shot didn't go down."

The contest also turned into a physical one with 47 fouls being called and the teams combing to shot 54 free throws.

"We know when we play Texas State that it is going to be a physical one," said Vereen, who finished with a game-high 25 points. "I thought we did a good job of overcoming that but the difference was they made plays and we didn't."

With the loss, the Mavericks drop to 10-9 on the season and 3-3 in Southland Conference play. They are now two games behind West Division co-leaders Sam Houston State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Mavs next game is at Corpus Christi Wednesday Feb. 4.

Texas State improved to 9-11 overall and 2-5 in the conference. Both of those wins have come against the Mavericks.

"It's disappointing losing to them twice," said Vereen. "I'm proud of the way we played but need to be better if we are going to contend in this conference."