Feb. 23, 2010

UTA Game Notes vs. Lamar

Arlington, Texas - The UTA men's basketball team doesn't have the longest winning streak among Southland Conference teams, but with seven wins in the last eight games, the Mavericks have been improving their standings with each passing game.

Heading into the Southeastern Louisiana game a week ago, the Mavericks would have been the seventh seed in the postseason tournament. Two wins later, UTA comes into Wednesday's game with Lamar (7 p.m., Texas Hall) as the conference's third seed.

Defense has been the Mavs calling card over this recent hot streak that started with a victory over Houston Baptist Jan. 25.

That was never more evident than in last Saturday's 71-47 victory at Central Arkansas. UTA held the Bears to an opponent's season-low 23.3% from the field. The Mavs lead the Southland in field goal percentage defense allowing their opponents to shoot 37.1% from the floor.

Close games have been the benchmark of the Mavericks season as 17 of the 25 games have been decided by 10 points or less. However, UTA's last three victories have come by an average of 16 points and that includes the season-high 24-point win at UCA.

Marquez Haynes continues to lead the Mavericks in scoring at 23.4 points per game. However, he has scored just 20 or more points just once in the last four games. He still leads the conference in scoring and is third in the nation entering the week.

Haynes also has a chance Wednesday to become UTA's all-time single season scoring leader. His 584 points trail only Sam Norton's 599 which he scored in 1983-84.

Justin Nabors leads Lamar with a 14.4 point per game average and 9.8 rebounds per game.

The Mavericks will be looking to win their fourth consecutive game at home over the Cardinals. Earlier this year Lamar won 71-68 in Beaumont in the second game of the conference season.

The game can be heard on utamavs.com