Jan. 5, 2011
Final Stats
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ARLINGTON, Tex. - UT Arlington has realized that good things happen when the team attacks the rim.
The Mavericks scored 69 points either in the paint or from the free-throw line, overpowering Houston Baptist 72-57 Wednesday night at Texas Hall.
"It wasn't quite as pretty as we would have liked, but a win is a win and we'll take it," UT Arlington coach Scott Cross said. "I wanted us to get the ball inside to our post players and I think we did that. We got double figure points from three of our bigs and I think we have a good chance to win when we do that."
Brandon Edwards recorded his second career double-double, scoring 14 points and collecting 11 rebounds in the victory.
The inside presence came from in myriad ways - from high-low passes into the post to guards like Cameron Catlett driving the lane.
Regardless of how the Mavs (6-7) got inside, the Huskies had no answer once they got there. That was a good thing for UTA, which shot just 1 of 12 on 3-point attempts.
UT Arlington had to shake off early struggles before coasting to the win.
Then the Mavs started pumping the ball inside the paint.
The Mavs made just two of their first eight shots from the field and trailed by as many as eight in the early going.
Behind eight points from Edwards, UTA answered with a 15-2 run that helping to give the Mavs control of the game by halftime.
Edwards scored a team-high 10 first-half points.
The Mavericks finished making 58 percent of their shots in the second half.
"That's what happens when you get the ball inside," Cross said.
Bo Ingram and Jordan Reves added 13 and 12 points, respectively. LaMarcus Reed III and Cameron Catlett also finished in double-figure point totals with 11 apiece.
The Mavs upped their lead to 44-32 when Reed made 2 of 4 free throws after Houston Baptist coach Ron Cottrell was ejected. Cottrell received two technical fouls for arguing with officials with 12:51 remaining in the game.
The Huskies responded by mounting a 9-4 mini-run, but couldn't inch any closer than five points. UTA responded with a 12-2 run to put the game safely out of reach.
Andrew Gonzalez led the Huskies (1-12) with 15 points.
The Mavericks open Southland Conference play Saturday afternoon when they travel to Nicholls for a 1 p.m. showdown at Stopher Gym in Thibodaux, La.
"Now we start conference play and it will certainly be a challenge," Cross said. "It's a tough environment and it gets loud in there. They're tough to be in there. We're going to have to play better than we did tonight to get a victory. I know we're capable of it."
