Jan. 3, 2009

UTA-Utah Valley Box Score

OREM, Ut. - For the second consecutive game, the UTA men's basketball team used a strong defense effort and an outstanding shooting night to register a road victory as they defeated Utah Valley 75-64 Saturday.

The Mavericks finished the game shooting 54.5% which was the second consecutive game in which they shot better than 50%. They also converted 14 Utah Valley turnovers into 25 points as they got back to the .500 mark at 6-6.

Marquez Haynes scored a career-high 26 points to lead three UTA players in double figures as the Mavericks won their second consecutive game.

Haynes was 10-of-17 from the field and got off to a quick start as he scored 15 of his points in the first half.

"I got some early looks in the game and they were letting me shoot so I tried to take advantage of that," said Haynes.

"Marquez has really played well of late," said Mavericks head coach Scott Cross. "His game has really picked it and it showed tonight."

UTA held a 36-27 halftime lead and extended that to 13 early in the second half but then had to work to seal the victory as the Wolverines got back into the game.

Utah Valley cut the lead to three with 11 minutes to play but the Mavs withstood that run and increased the lead back up to eight with seven minutes remaining.

The Mavs saw their lead cut to five at 61-56 a minute later before Haynes hit a 3-pointer and that was followed by nine consecutive points by Roge'r Guignard to seal the win. Guignard finished the game with 14 as did Brandon Long for UTA.

UTA held Utah Valley's leading scorer Ryan Toolson to 17 points which is seven points under his season's average.

"We thought if we had to make him work on the defensive end a little bit more it might take away some of his offensive abilities," said Cross.

Haynes echoed his head coach's comments on holding Toolson below his season's average.

"It was a complete team effort tonight in trying to keep him off the scoreboard," said Haynes.

The Mavs are getting closer to the end of their 10-game road trip on which they are now 3-5.

"We thought if we could get through this stretch of road games, we would be better off later in the season," said Cross. "We have a veteran team and they know we are going to have to win on the road if we are going to be a factor in the conference race."

The Mavericks return to action Wednesday, Jan. 7 at UT Pan American.