UT Arlington (23-10) at Savannah State (16-15)
Wednesday | 6 p.m. CT | Savannah, GA (Tiger Arena)
Game Notes | KKGM 1630 AM | Live Stats | Live Stream

CollegeInsider.com Tournament

By Art Garcia | @ArtGarcia92

ARLINGTON, Texas - For the third time in the last five years, UT Arlington earned a spot in a postseason tournament. For the second consecutive time, it's a CollegeInsider.com Tournament berth.

The Mavericks (23-10) travel to Savannah State (16-15) for Wednesday's first-round matchup at Tiger Arena. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on KKGM 1630 AM. A video stream is also available at watchcollegeinsider.com.

"You never want the season to end," UT Arlington coach Scott Cross said. "Obviously, the last game of the year is always a disappointment unless you win a national championship. The guys have an opportunity to play in the CIT and it's a great thing. They've worked hard and they've earned that right, so hopefully we can go to Savannah State and get a little bit better."

UTA heads east with momentum. The Mavs have won eight of their last 11 games, including a five-game winning streak that was snapped Saturday in the Sun Belt Championship semifinals. UTA needs one victory to tie the program record for single-season wins.

"We're trying to get better," Cross said. "Trying to get better ball movement, player movement and continue to work on our defense. You can never be too good defensively, so we want to improve in some areas and continue to rebound the basketball."

UTA has gone to four postseason tournaments during Cross' 10 years as head coach. The men's program had only one previous trip to the postseason in the first 46 years of its existence.

The Mavericks lost to Oral Roberts in the first round of the 2013 CIT. The year before, the Mavs were beaten in the opening game of the NIT at Washington. UTA has never won a postseason game, going 0-4.

The CIT is a 26-team event that began Monday and runs through March 29. The Mavs would receive a bye into the third round if they beat Savannah State by virtue of being one of the tournament's three highest ranked teams in the KenPom.com RPI.

Savannah State went 9-7 in the MEAC and 12-2 at home this season. The Tigers last reached the postseason in the 2013 CIT. UTA and Savannah State are meeting for the first time.