March 18, 2017
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ARLINGTON, Texas - UTA's sparkling new College Park Center hosts one of the most highly-anticipated college basketball games of its short existence Monday when the Mavericks host Akron in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
The second-highest remaining seed in its 8-team region, sixth-seeded UTA hosts the No. 7 Zips at 7 p.m. (CDT). The game will be televised nationally by ESPNU with Rich Hollenberg and Reid Gettys calling the action.
Tickets are available by visiting UTATickets.com or by calling the UTA Box Office during business hours Monday at (817) 272-9595. Tickets will also be for sale at the box office throughout the day for as low as $10 each. UTA student tickets are priced at $5 for those without an all-sports pass. Students with an all-sports pass will be admitted without additional charge.
In addition to live ESPNU coverage, a live radio broadcast will be available throughout the DFW Metroplex on KEXB 620 AM and via the popular TuneIn app on smartphones and tablets. Links to complete game coverage, including video, audio and live statistics, are available on UTAMavs.com.
The winner of Monday's game will advance to the tournament quarterfinals against the winner of fourth-seeded Colorado State against No. 8 CSU Bakersfield, which begins at 10:15 p.m. (CDT) in Fort Collins, Colo. The date, time and site of the quarterfinal is expected to be announced late Monday night.
Everyone associated with our program is excited about Monday's game," said UTA head coach Scott Cross. "You can feel the buzz around campus and the community. People are very excited. When the College Park Center is filled, the environment is as good as any place in the country. I'm glad our players, especially the seniors, will have a chance to play in front of that type of supportive home environment."
UTA enters Monday's game with a 26-8 overall record following a thrilling 105-89 first round victory at BYU. The Mavericks won its first-ever Sun Belt Conference regular-season title with a 14-4 mark in league play and the team's win total is the highest in program history. Its appearance in the NIT is the fifth time UTA has qualified for a postseason appearance and Monday's game marks the first time the program has hosted a NIT game.
With senior starting guard Jalen Jones out for the postseason due to a hand injury, junior Kaelon Wilson is expected earn his second-straight and sixth overall start of the year. The Lancaster native stepped into the starting role at BYU and responded with 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting to go with six rebounds.
Senior forward Jorge Bilbao is expected to be closer to full strength against the Zips. He has been suffering from illness for the past few weeks and has received IV treatment to assist with dehydration. At BYU, Bilbao was unable to participate in pregame practices and played at well less than 100 percent.
Guard Drew Charles, a senior from nearby Azle, registered a career night in Provo. He scored 28 points on 10-of-17 from the field and made five of his 12 3-point attempts. Backcourt mate Erick Neal handed out 13 assists against the Cougars, just one shy of the all-time NIT record for a single game.
Sun Belt Player of the Year Kevin Hervey rounds out the Mavericks' starting lineup. The Arlington native has registered a double-double in points and rebounds in four of his last five outings and scored 22 points with 8 rebounds and 4 assists at BYU.
Having a similar season as UTA, Akron earned its program-record 27th win of the season last week with a hard-fought 78-75 win at the second-seeded University of Houston. The Zips won the Mid-American Conference East Division, but fell to sixth-seeded Kent State in its tournament final and did not receive an at-large invitation into the NCAA Tournament.
The Zips are coached by 1982 Akron alum Keith Dambrot, in his 13th season in charge of the program. He owns a 412-208 career record and has won 304 games at his alma mater. Dambrot has led Akron to 21 or more wins in each of the last 12 seasons.
Akron is led by 6-10 center Isaiah Johnson, the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. The Cincinnati, Ohio native averages 16.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and is one of just two players on the team that has started all 35 games this season.
"We will have to team defend (Johnson) just like we did (BYU's Eric) Mika," said Cross. "He is as good of a post player that I've seen. He has soft hands, is huge, has great post moves and can really finish.
"The problem is that they have great perimeter shooters throughout their lineup. Akron is definitely going to pose a big challenge for our defense. They are a great offensive team."
