March 10, 2010

Final Stats

Photo Gallery | Box score

By Josh Bowe for utamavs.com

KATY, Texas - After another Stephen F. Austin score, Marquez Haynes glanced up at the scoreboard before heading back up the court.

He shook his head in disgust, took the inbounds pass and went up the court. At the time in the first half the deficit was only 17. Unfortunately for UT Arlington it would get worse.

Way worse.

Stephen F. Austin dominated UTA Wednesday afternoon 77-54 at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas. The loss ended any hopes of the Mavericks repeating what they did in 2008 - entering the Southland Conference Tournament as the seventh seed and winning it all.

"We ran into a buzz saw," coach Scott Cross said. "They were tougher than us. They played harder and beat us in every aspect of the game - coaching included."

The Mavericks (16-14) were never really in the game. After a few possessions, SFA (22-8) led 3-2 in the opening minutes and then the Lumberjacks poured it on. SFA went on a 15-4 run to bust out to an 18-4 lead over the opening 10 minutes.

Hot shooting from the Lumberjacks torched the Mavs throughout the run. SFA shot 54 percent in the first half leading 33-20.

That was actually an improvement. At one point SFA was shooting 77 percent from the field in the first half and leading by 20.

"They executed on both ends of the floor," Cross said. "They hit some big time shots."

A brief rally from UTA from the end of the first half to the beginning of the second gave it some hope. Haynes hit his first three pointer of the game in the opening minutes of the second half and brought the Mavs to within 10 at 35-25.

But much like in the first half, the Lumberjacks turned it on behind some hot shooting. SFA went on 20-2 run to squash any hopes of a Maverick rally by leading by as many as 30 in the second half (62-32). The run was largely created by SFA junior guard Eddie Williams.

Williams finished the game with a game high 22 points and 5-of-7 from three. Four of his three pointers came during the 20-2 run. SFA ended the game shooting 58 percent as a team.

Haynes was at a loss for words when it came to describing what exactly went wrong during the second half run.

"I'm not even really sure of what happened," said an emotional Haynes. "I'll have to look at the tape."

Haynes led the Mavericks with 17 points. Senior guards Dwight Gentry and Brandon Long were the only other Mavericks to score in double figures, with 13 and 10 respectively.

The Mavericks shot only 34 percent in the game.

"It was frustrating," Haynes said. "A testament to their defense. They did a good job of getting on us."

The Mavericks all year had been at least consistent in keeping games close, wins or losses. This marks only the second time UTA has lost by more than double digits against a conference opponent. The other was a 94-69 blowout at the hands of Sam Houston State over a week ago.

Haynes said intensity and the `spark' the Mavs usually have when playing wasn't there today.

"I can't really remember a game where we didn't spark anything," Haynes said. "They're a tough team. Hats off to them."

Part of the intensity and toughness Cross has preached all season showed up in another stat: rebounds. SFA out rebounded UTA an alarming 42-17. In fact, the Lumberjacks almost had as many offensive rebounds (13) as Mavericks had total rebounds (17).

"It all kind of goes hand in hand," Cross said. "I think Stephen F. was the tougher team tonight and offensive rebounds is one of those areas is a hustle point."

The game marks the end of Haynes illustrious Maverick career. A career that includes the single season scoring record and conference player of the year. Haynes said none of those achievements compare to making the NCAA tournament - something he wanted to do in his two years with UTA.

"I definitely didn't see it ending like this," Haynes said. "It's hard man, it really is hard. To be in the NCAA Tournament - that's what you remember more.

"It's been a great ride. I thank a lot of people for it but I wish I could of done a little bit more to help end it the way everyone wanted to."