Final Stats

By Art Garcia | UTAMavs.com

PEORIA, Illinois - The long ball served UT Arlington well in the season opener, as the Mavericks bombarded Bradley with 3-pointers in Friday night's 86-75 victory over the Braves at the Carver Center.

The Mavericks (1-0) drilled 12 daggers from beyond the arc in 20 attempts, led by three each from senior Jamel Outler and freshman Kevin Hervey. The school record of 16 set in 1991 appeared in jeopardy in the first half as UTA took control of the nonconference contest.

"Our guys played really well and moved the ball around," UT Arlington coach Scott Cross said. "Our young guys played awesome in the first half and through the entire game. I'm really proud of them."

Sophomore guard Drew Charles led four Mavs in double figures with 14 points. Outler, Hervey and junior guard Johnny Hill each scored 13. Hill added nine rebounds and five assists. Hervey and sophomore forward Brandon Williams had seven boards apiece.

UTA would shoot 47.2 percent (25-53) for the game and enjoyed a 24-14 edge in made free throws. Bradley was held to 38.2-percent shooting from the floor.

"It was better than I expected," Cross said. "We played phenomenal. We attacked and played solid defense. I'm very proud of the guys for finding a way to win."

The Mavericks have won the last two meetings against Bradley, a Missouri Valley Conference program, and trail the all-time series 3-2. UTA improved to 8-1 in season openers under Cross.

After a sluggish start for both sides, the Mavericks began to heat up from downtown and impose their will. At one point in the first half, six consecutive UTA baskets came from beyond the 3-point line.

The first four 3-pointers in that stretch came from freshman, as Hervey hit two, and Erick Neal and Kaelon Wilson each knocked down one. The barrage ended with Outler connecting on a deep 3 and getting fouled. The four-point play game UTA its first double-figure lead at 26-16.

The Mavericks' long-distance mastery was hardly done. UTA would make 10 3-pointers in the first half in 14 attempts, a scorching 71.4 percentage. Six different Mavs would make at least one trey in the opening 20 minutes.

"We were making them, so that was our game plan," Charles said.

Hervey's second 3 of the half extended UTA's lead to 44-23. The Mavericks went into the locker room up 48-29 and shooting 50 percent (14-28) after starting the game 1 of 8. Charles had 12 points at the break, with Hervey adding eight and Neal contributing seven.

The Mavericks would keep a comfortable cushion throughout the second half by continuing to push the tempo offensively while remaining solid at the other end of the court. UTA attacked the basket with more regularly in the second half and earned 20 trips to the foul line.

The Mavericks return home for their College Park Center opener Tuesday against Buffalo. Tip-off is 7 p.m. and tickets are available at UTATickets.com.