Jan. 9, 2010
Final Stats
By Josh Bowe for utamavs.com
ARLINGTON - Texas - If today's game were entered in a beauty contest, it's a pretty safe assumption that last place would be the likeliest choice.
UT Arlington fell 64-60 against Texas State Saturday afternoon in the first Southland Conference game for UTA. The Bobcats survived one of the more ugly, stranger and sloppy games coach Scott Cross has witnessed. He said the upcoming film session wont be easy to look at.
"It's going to be absolutely disgusting to watch," Cross said. "The one bright spot is I thought we did a solid job defensively and rebounding which have been our two flaws."
The defense was about where all the compliments came from. UTA held the third highest scoring team in the conference 14 points below their season average.
Unfortunately, the Mavs had one of their worst offensive displays this season. UTA shot a cold 17-for-47 from the field (36.2 percent). It's the lowest amount of made field goals the Mavs had all year. Both teams combined for 56 total turnovers and 59 fouls, slowing the game down and getting both teams' players out of rhythm with all the stoppages of play.
Down the stretch Texas State ambushed leading scorer Haynes and UTA's second leading scorer, junior guard Brandon Long, to force other Mavericks to beat them. They didn't, as junior guard Dwight Gentry was the only other Mav to score in double figures with 10, all in the first half.
"We struggled with our offensive execution," senior guard Marquez Haynes said. "The last few games we've (Haynes and Long) both been face guarded a lot.
"Teams aren't helping off us pretty much at all, so I think that we're going to have to do a better strong of getting stronger."
The first half seemed to suggest the Mavs were ready to handle the Bobcats' half-court traps and defensive pressure. Gentry found himself open to score his 10 points as Haynes and Long passed out of double teams.
The second half couldn't of started any worse. Nursing a 36-29 lead, UTA went scoreless for almost four minutes. Texas State went on a 12-4 run to retake the lead behind junior guard Ryan White's 14 points and long range shooting.
Texas State never relinquished that lead, as its defense proved to suffocating for the Mavs.
"You got to give credit to them, they were extremely psychical," Cross said. "That's where we've got to be strong with the ball and not let them speed us up."
It didn't help that freshmen guards Cameron Catlett and Armani Williams played like, well, freshmen. To two combined to shoot 1-for-6 and played a combined 28 minutes, failing to give Long and Haynes much rest on the bench.
"We do need those guys, they're a key part of what we're doing," Cross said. "I expect them to have a better game on Wednesday."
Cross and the rest of the Mavs can only hope. After the game Cross walked into the locker room with a message for all the Mavericks: It's only going to be tougher from here on out.
"Welcome to the Southland conference guys," Cross said. "It ain't going to get any easier."
