By Cassie Logan | UTAMavs.com

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Any fan that followed UTA men's basketball last season remembers that November road trip to Ohio State.

The 73-68 decision over the Buckeyes was at the time arguably the biggest win in program history, and the mid-major victory over a Big Ten power was a foreshadowing of UTA's unignorable rise toward top-50 distinction.

As much as the win itself was a representation of the team's growth and maturity, so was an incident that ESPN3 cameras caught on the court postgame.

Drew Charles, a junior in 2015-16, was shown attempting to throw a water cup away when an Ohio State fan swatted it out of the guard's hand. Charles reacted by simply walking away without saying a word. Many took the act as a sign of composure after the upset, staying humble even when a Buckeye fan couldn't.

That's the kind of person Charles is. He's a representation of UTA coach Scott Cross' program, and now at the helm of a squad that just clinched its third regular season championship in history. UTA enters this week's Sun Belt tournament as the No. 1 seed, with a 2016-17 resume that includes road wins over Texas and then No. 12 Saint Mary's.

It's been a whirlwind of a season for the Azle, Texas native, one of four seniors receiving prized championship rings after graduation in May. But amid all the national attention and seeding in bracketology reports, the senior has kept his perspective about where he's been and how it's lifted the team to where it could go.

Charles has dedicated nearly five years to UTA. He came in fresh out of high school, and now is engaged with plans to graduate with a Master's in Business Administration. He's currently among the best in the Sun Belt in 3-point shooting and ranks in the top 10 in program history for 3-pointers and games played, making him the winningest Maverick of all time (83-47).

"When I was a senior in high school, they just came off a Southland Conference Championship, so I knew coach Cross was building a winning culture," Charles said. "I knew all the coaches wanted to win and knew how."

Charles' first season with the program in 2012-13 saw a loss in the WAC Conference Championship and a bid to the College Insider.com Tournament. He hadn't planned to make an impact, but injuries plagued starters enough to make room for him on the court. He made four starts in 32 appearances, averaging 16 minutes a game.

He was allowed a redshirt his sophomore season, UTA's inaugural year in the Sun Belt Conference. Despite an under .500 performance and split in league play, Charles understood a season off would prove to be humbling and beneficial for his team in the long-run.

"I had to work on every aspect of the game from shooting to ball handling," Charles said. "When your redshirt, you're in offseason all year, so [strength and conditioning coach Danny Wardell] really got my body right to where I became more explosive and more athletic."

That year also served as an opportunity for Charles to adapt to Cross' style of bulldog basketball grow mentally. The senior said he knows his stat line won't surprise people, but he wants to be remembered for the way he positively influenced those around him. Whether that'd be making his family and fiancé proud, or carrying himself in a good light on national television.

When Charles returned in 2014-15, his production and minutes increased year-by-year, and his shooting ability became a threat for the Mavericks. As a redshirt sophomore, Charles shot 80.5 percent from the free throw line in 23 games. It was also the same year UTA returned to claim a winning slate, though it fell in the first round of the Sun Belt tournament.

His range stretched further the following season, this time earning him league recognition. He averaged 9.4 points in 35 starts, one of two Mavericks to do so. His 38 percent 3-point shooting was registered best among UTA starters and 10th in the conference. His six treys in an avenged win over Texas State in the first round of postseason was the fourth-highest single-game performance for a Mav at the time. That season, UTA matched a program-high 24 wins.

And oddly enough, that November 20th trip to Columbus saw Charles grab a game-high nine rebounds against Ohio State. But fans still didn't see him retaliate after the water cup incident.

2015-16 wasn't only a confidence boost for Charles and Co. It was a realization that this particular squad could go the distance with the dense knowledge and leadership from captains like Charles and four-year veteran Jorge Bilbao, and raw talent from Kevin Hervey and Erick Neal. Not to mention, the guys are convinced they're brothers with a tightly-wound team chemistry.

Now traveling to New Orleans with a No. 1 seed in tow, on the verge of record-breaking campaign, Cross, more than anything, wants this championship for guys like Charles, who laid the foundation of excellence and made a season like this possible.

"This tournament is important for the four seniors that we have because they're a special group," Cross said. "They've really helped change our culture and raise it up. It's been their toughness, doing all of the little things right, and getting things done on the classroom and in the court every season."

On the program's postseason media day on Monday, Charles reflected on his five years, but his favorite memories are still a work in progress.

"Saint Mary's was great. Texas was great," Charles said. "But to end my career at CPC cutting down the nets and now having the Sun Belt title is something I'll remember for a lifetime.

"We want to keep playing until the end of March. I know my days are limited, but I'm enjoying every minute and will continue to do my best."