MBB: Mavs conclude nonconference with Sul Ross State
12/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UT Arlington (8-2) vs. Sul Ross State (3-6)
Monday | 7 p.m. CT | College Park Center
Game Notes | KKGM 1630 AM | Live Stream ($) | Live Stats
By Art Garcia | @ArtGarcia92
ARLINGTON, Texas - When it comes to nonconference, UT Arlington coach Scott Cross couldn't have scripted it much better. The Mavericks head into their final game before the start of Sun Belt play having knocked off several college basketball heavyweights, while turning heads around the country.
More than just the wins and losses - UTA is 8-2 heading into Monday night's 7 p.m. matchup against Sul Ross State at College Park Center - is the way the Mavs have bought in.
"The way we've been rebounding is definitely the most impressive part of our season so far," Cross said. "I thought before the season that we could be a great passing team and we're on our way. The last four or five games, I've seen a progression in that department. Our assist numbers are way up and this really can be a great passing team. And we're really getting after it defensively. You preach it every day, but you never really know until you get out there."
The Mavericks' start hasn't gone unnoticed. UTA is ranked in several mid-major polls, including fourth by TheCatchandShoot.com, 14th by CollegeInsider.com and 15th by MidMajorMadness.com. UTA is 45th in the latest NCAA RPI, 75th in Sagarin and 85th in Pomeroy.
Power forward Kevin Hervey and point guard Erick Neal have garnered several Player of the Week awards already, but it's truly been a team effort. The rotation has gone 10 deep, with contributions being made throughout the roster.
Before the Mavericks finish nonleague play, let's look back the first 10 games of the season. UT Arlington has defeated teams from Conference USA (UTEP, Rice, North Texas), Big Ten (Ohio State), American (Memphis), Atlantic 10 (Fordham) and Missouri Valley (Bradley).
UTA 77, Fordham 72 Junior college transfers Faith Pope and Jalen Jones scored 14 and 11 points, respectively, as the Mavericks held off a late charge to hold off the Rams. Hervey scored 12, and Jorge Bilbao added 10 points and six rebounds. Cross improved to 9-1 in season openers.
Louisiana Tech 80, UTA 68 The Mavs led 42-32 at halftime and were up 12 early in the second half, but ran out of gas down the stretch. Neal tied his career high with 23 points and dished out seven assists. For the Bulldogs, the win was their 51st in the last 52 home games.
UTA 73, Ohio State 68 Arguably the biggest victory in program history (at the time) took place on the road in Columbus. Hervey battled through foul trouble to score 18, as the Mavs scored their first-ever win over a squad from the Big Ten in nine tries. Neal added 17 points. UTA out-rebounded the bigger Buckeyes 46-37 and outscored them 34-22 in the paint.
UTA 68, Memphis 64 Three nights after the Ohio State shocker, the Mavericks overcame a huge disparity at the line to upset another traditional basketball power. UTA regrouped from a 15-0 Tigers' run to close strong. Hervey had a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds. Jones scored 15 and Neal had 13. Memphis shot 44 free throws to UTA's 19.
UTA 73, Grambling 40
Hervey scored 17 and grabbed 13 boards, as the Mavs improved to 4-1. Jones scored 13, Kaelon Wilson added 12 points off the bench, Drew Charles scored 11 and grabbed six boards, and freshman forward Nick Pallas had a season-high nine rebounds. UTA was up 33-16 at the break.
UTA 92, Rice 74 The Mavericks shot 68 percent in the first half and rolled over the Owls on the road. Hervey (27 points), Neal (24 points) and Charles (17 points) all set new career highs in scoring. Hervey grabbed 15 boards. Neal was a perfect 9-9 from the floor, including 3-3 on 3-pointers. The Mavs made 10 from downtown.
Texas 80, UTA 73 (OT) A made 3-pointer from Hervey in the first half that was incorrectly called a 2-point shot by the officials ended up costing the Mavs in Austin. Hervey finished with another double-double, racking up 15 points and 15 rebounds. UTA led 31-27 at halftime and had a lead early in OT before two 3-pointers helped the Longhorns pull away.
UTA 90, North Texas 67 Five Mavericks scored in double figures in the renewal of a Metroplex rivalry. Hervey (20 points and 15 rebounds) notched his fifth consecutive double-double. UTA raced out to a 23-6 lead before the third-largest crowd (6,107) in College Park Center history.
UTA 76, UTEP 62
The Mavericks pulled off another road stunner against a Miner squad that was receiving votes in both major polls. Four scored in double figures, led by 18 points from Hervey. Neal scored 14 and dished out five assists. Jones scored 14 and Wilson had 13 points off the bench.
UTA 97, Bradley 61 Double-doubles from Hervey (20 points and 10 rebounds) and Neal (20 points and career-high 10 assists) powered another rout. The Mavs hit their highest point total of the season behind a season-high 53-point first half. The lead reached 42 late in the second. Neal's point-assist double-double was the first for the program since 2007.
