Jan. 2, 2016

Final Stats

By Art Garcia | @ArtGarcia92

ARLINGTON, Texas - The UT Arlington Mavericks overcame a double-digit deficit to extend their winning streak to six by running past Georgia Southern 92-72 Saturday night at College Park Center.

UTA improved to 11-2 overall and 2-0 in the Sun Belt by finishing off a perfect four-game homestand. Kevin Hervey awoke from a sluggish first half to rack up his seventh double-double of the season with 25 points and 13 rebounds.

Three other Mavs scored in double figures - Drew Charles (16), Erick Neal (12) and Kaelon Wilson (10) off the bench. Neal added eight assists.

The Eagles (4-8, 0-2) came out red hot, especially from deep. Georgia State nailed 9 of its first 10 3-pointers and built as much as an 11-point lead early. Georgia State went cold and the Mavs gained control to take a 42-39 lead into the halftime locker room.

UTA would take over in the second half, taking as much as a 25-point lead. Hervey had 22 points and 10 boards after the break.

Turning Point
The Mavs rallied from a 25-14 deficit midway through the first half to lead going into halftime. UTA went on a 28-12 run to go up 42-37 before settling for a 42-39 edge at the break.

Key Stats
UTA shot 56.3 percent (18-32) in the second half to outscore the Eagles 50-33. The Mavs also held a 47-28 advantage on the glass. UTA came into the game as the nation's top rebounding team.

Notable
Hervey has scored in double figures in all 13 games. ... Wilson has scored in double figures in the last three games, all off the bench. ... UTA has won eight games by double figures. ... The last time UTA started 11-2 was the 1980-81 season. ... UTA is 7-0 at home. ... Attendance was 2,117.

Up Next
The Mavericks continue Sun Belt play at Appalachian State on Thursday, Dec. 7. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m. CT, with the radio broadcast on KKGM 1630 AM.

Quotable
Scott Cross on the win:
"It seemed like the lid really opened up there in the second half. We seemed to be knocking down everything. Unfortunately we didn't do a great job taking care of the basketball. That was disappointing, but we did a great job rebounding with the exception of the last couple of minutes. Any win is a good win, especially the way they came out shooting the basketball. It looked like we were in for a long night, but our guys kept moving the ball. We played with speed. We finally got some stops and were able to apply a little pressure. So it's a good win."

Cross on winning despite turnovers and Georgia Southern's hot start:
"That's the sign of a good basketball team. It's a tribute to rebounding the basketball and shooting a high percentage offensively. This team finds a way to win. We may not be perfect in one or two areas, but over the course of the game, I think four of the five areas we're really good in in most basketball games. It changes from game to game, but I'll take it. The only stat that really matters is the W."

Cross On Kevin Hervey:
"He probably had his worst half he's ever played in the first half, a bunch of turnovers and then the second half it's amazing. He had six rebounds in three minutes of the second half."

Kevin Hervey on the win:
"We just gel together, we play well together. Coach focuses on defense and that's what one of our main focus points. This team came out really hot, but we knew that nobody could really keep up shooting like that. They were like 86 percent, so we knew if we just buckled down and kept the game plan going that they'll start missing and we'll start getting some shots to fall."