Dec. 6, 2014

Final Stats

Photo Gallery

By Art Garcia | UTAMavs.com

ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington made the final run in a game of runs and topped Weber State 63-56 in a nonconference matchup Saturday afternoon at College Park Center.

The Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 4-4 on the season. UTA also avenged a 72-70 loss at Weber State two years ago that snapped a school-record 16-game winning streak.

"It was a really great all-around team effort," UT Arlington coach Scott Cross said. "I thought Johnny Hill played with intensity and played with a chip on his shoulder. It was great to see. I'm really proud of our guys. We played great defense and it was a great win."

Playing at home for the first time in two weeks, a number of Mavericks made key contributions. Hill, a junior guard coming off the bench for the first time this season, scored 12, including a left-handed driving layup in the final minute. He also dished out six assists and had three steals.

"This could be the game were we could reel off couple in row," said Hill, who played 34 minutes. "We all bought in."

Freshman guard Kaelon Wilson (nine points, seven rebounds and two steals) came up big after the Wildcats (3-4) opened the second half with a 17-2 run to take a 38-30 lead. Wilson's 3-pointer helped UTA regain the lead (41-38), and he added a driving layup and steal for a dunk shortly after.

"I don't feel like I took over," Wilson said. "It felt like we all did what it took to get better and chip away at the lead."

UTA won the rebound battle (39-35), outscored WSU in the paint (38-22) and off the bench (37-2). The Mavericks also held the visitors to 32.7-percent shooting.

Senior guard Lonnie McClanahan scored 10, senior forward Greg Gainey had eight points and eight boards off the bench, and senior guard Jamel Outler had nine points. Ten Mavericks played at least 10 minutes.

Weber State guard and Arlington native Jeremy Senglin led all scorers with 18 points.

After a sluggish start, the Mavericks were able to overcome Weber State's early 10-2 lead by hitting the boards and finding their rhythm on the offensive end. UTA responded with 13-0 run and held the lead for the remainder of the half.

Hill had a pair of steals that led to fastbreak layups during the spurt. UTA went up as much as 10 (28-18) on McClanahan's tear drop late in the half.

Gainey was active with seven points and four rebounds in the first half. McClanahan scored six, and forward Jorge Bilbao and Outler each had four points as the Mavericks took a 28-21 lead into half.

UTA focused on rebounding in the practices after the Texas game and the results showed. Sophomore forward Brandon Williams, Bilbao and Wilson also had four boards in the first half, as UTA took a 23-15 edge on the glass at the break.

"It was a step in the right direction," Cross said of rebounding. "We've got to continue to make progress in that area."

The Mavericks have a week off before hitting the road again with trip to UC Irvine next Saturday.

NOTES: Williams made his first start of the season and eighth of his career. ... Freshman G Erick Neal (ankle) was out. ... UTA is 3-0 when leading at halftime.