Jan. 16, 2010

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Final Stats

By Josh Bowe for utamavs.com

ARLINGTON - Texas - Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci and Marquez Haynes?

That would be a seemingly unfit group for the senior guard to fit into. But not after tonight, not after what LaMarcus Reed just witnessed.

"That was like art man, it was beautiful. I loved it," Reed, sophomore forward, said.

Reed was describing Haynes' brilliant 38-point performance as UT Arlington stormed back in the second half to knock off UT San Antonio 72-66.

The Mavs rode what was one of the more incredible individually performances by a Maverick in school history according to coach Scott Cross.

"It was the best I've ever seen by far," Cross said. "Without a doubt. Since I've been at UTA since 1995 that was the best I've ever seen."

Even more remarkable is considering how Haynes reached his 38 points. The Irving native only had eight points on 2-of-6 shooting in the first half, including 0-for-3 on three pointers.

"I didn't' shoot the ball that well in the first half, but I felt good," Haynes said. "Sometimes you know if you feel good, if you keep shooting, it will fall."

And Haynes kept shooting. And shooting. And shooting. With UTA trailing at half 31-28 and shooting only 30 percent from the field, Haynes decided to take matters into his own hands in the second half.

The Mavs trailed the Roadrunners 44-37 midway through the second half when they went on a 19-7 run. All 19 of those points came from Haynes as he personally connected on six straight three pointers.

"After the third one, that's when I felt it," Haynes said. "Sometimes you just feel like everything you put up will go in."

The degree in difficulty of each shot increased. Haynes came off screens, he pulled up in transition, he stepped back and faded away. No matter what UTSA did, Haynes wasn't going to be denied.

Reed, who finished with 10 points, even admitted to admiring Haynes, even as he was playing alongside him on the court.

"I caught myself a couple of times watching him play," Reed said.

But Haynes' effort would have been all for naught if it wasn't for how the Mavericks played on the other end of the floor.

Coming into the game, UTSA featured a potent dribble drive offense that had four players averaging double figures in points. Four players scored in double figures tonight for the Roadrunners, but the Mavs held the team in check to 35 percent shooting.

"Defense has been phenomenal," Cross said. "Its starting to sink in that defense can win games."

UTA held UTSA's leading scorer, junior guard Devin Gibson, to just 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting. Cross was especially pleased that with the return of Reed, who missed five games due to a foot injury, was able to make such an immediate impact.

"The key with them is not getting beat off the dribble," Cross said. "We didn't give them too many wide open looks."

Even if the Roadrunners did get into the paint, the Mavs showed off some of tough interior defense. Junior forward Trey Parker had a game high four blocks to go along with eight rebounds. UTA out rebounded UTSA 42-38,

"When we make up our mind, we can rebound," Cross said. "The guys have definitely toughened up."

Being tough and energized was something Cross was happy to see tonight he said. The Mavs have been in the same situation before in the last two conference games, and failed to close them out. Tonight was different though with Haynes.

With the six three pointers already behind him, Haynes kept himself within the offense during the last two minutes, driving the lane and putting his teammates in a position to score.

"I'm starting to figure out the offense a little bit better," Haynes said. "I know where to attack and where not to, it's just a progression."

UTA only led 67-64 with less than two minutes to play. Haynes drove to the hoop for push the lead to 69-64, and then Parker helped clinch it with two free throws with 54 seconds left.

Not that Cross had any questions about Haynes' decision making down the stretch if he wanted to keep launching three's. It was that kind of night for Haynes.

"We were just saying `Quez, go to work'," Cross said. "Just little different wrinkles out of our offense and he did the rest, guys can make you look like offensive genius at times."

MAVERICK NOTES:

REED RETURNS

LaMarcus Reed returned from missing the past five. Reed plays the point on the 1-3-1 zone and uses his athleticism and length to pressure the ball handler. Reed scored 10 points in the game.

LONG STRUGLES AGAIN

Brandon Long has not had a good shooting game since he scored 27 points against Houston Baptist. He struggled throughout the game going 1-for-8 scoring two points

POOR SHOOTING IN FIRST HALF

The first half looked like same song different tune for the Mav offense. The Mavericks are shooting 42.3 percent on the season and only 36.2 percent for the two conference games thus far. In the first half tonight they shot a dismal 30 percent. A strong run at the end of the half brought them to within three at halftime.

HAYNES PUTS ON A CLINIC

Haynes came alive in the second half after scoring only eight in the first half. He hit six consecutive threes to give UTA the lead after being down the entire game. Haynes reverted back to how he played early in the season scoring 38 points on 13-of-19 shooting

STAT O' THE NIGHT

38 -What else would it be? Haynes' career night lifted the Mavericks past the conference leading Roadrunners.