Box Score Jan. 18, 2018
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
ARLINGTON, Texas -- League leader Louisiana used a 20-2 second-half run to erase a strong UTA start, lifting the Ragin' Cajuns to a 77-65 win over the Mavs, on Thursday night at College Park Center. UTA (12-8, 3-4 Sun Belt) opened the game on a strong start, building a 14-pint lead just five minutes into the game. Louisiana (16-3, 6-0 Sun Belt) trailed by only six at halftime and came out of the break on fire, using a 20-2 run over a 10-minute stretch to build a double-digit lead into the final minutes.
The Ragin' Cajuns won their sixth straight game to open league play and only own setbacks at Ole Miss, vs. Wyoming and at Clemson. The Mavs were held to 37 percent from the field, the fourth straight opponent Louisiana has held below 40 percent. Louisiana outrebounded UTA, 44-30, owning a 32-26 advantage in points in the paint and 21-6 in bench points. The Cajuns outscored UTA in the second half, 45-21, holding UTA to 25 percent from the field in the final stanza.
LEADING THE MAVS
UTA senior Kevin Hervey, the 2016-17 Sun Belt Conference Male Athlete of the Year, led the way offensively, totaling 25 points and nine rebounds in 37 minutes, adding three assists, a block and steal. Senior point guard Erick Neal had 14 points and four assists, adding a season-high five steals. UTA also got 10 points from senior Kaelon Wilson and eight points and seven rebounds from Johnny Hamilton.
NEXT
The Mavs will return to action on Saturday, hosting ULM at 4:15 p.m. CT at College Park Center in a game broadcast live on ESPN3.com.
FIRST HALF
The Mavs opened the game on a blistering pace, getting back-to-back baskets from Hervey to start the scoring. UTA built an 18-4 lead over the next five minutes of game action, getting a jumper from Hervey, triples from Neal and Hervey, a lay-in from Wilson and four makes at the charity stripe. UTA's 14-point lead was short lived as the Ragin' Cajuns score the next 11 points to cut the UTA lead to 18-15. After Link Kabadyundi halted the LA run with a free throw, Davion Turner sank his first triple of the game to build a 22-15 lead. After LA answered with a jumper, Neal drilled a pair of free throws to take a 24-17 lead into the under eight-minute media timeout. After a free throw, lay-in and jam from Hamilton, the Mavs stretched their led to 29-23. The teams traded triples and free throws to take UTA's lead to 37-32, with Wilson's triple, free throws from Hervey and a buzzer beating layup from D.J. Bryant gave the Mavs a 44-32 lead at the break. UTA's half finished on a 0-0 run, with UTA led by 16 points from Hervey.
SECOND HALF
Hervey opened the second stanza with a jumper with Hawkins adding a triple to take the lead to 48-40. The Ragin' Cajuns then mounted a furious run to take a 51-50 lead into the under 12-minute media timeout, holding the Mavs scoreless over a seven-minute stretch riding an 11-0 run. With LA in the midst of a 20-2 run over 10 minutes to take a 62-55 lead, UTA answered with a three from the wing from Hervey after a nice pass from Neal, going into the under four-minute timeout with a four-point lead. After LA took a 66-58 lead, Wilson drove to the rim to cut the lead to six. LA answered after a timeout, building its lead back to double digits and holding off a late UTA charge for a 12-point win.
PURCHASE UTA HOME GAME TICKETS
Single game, group and specially-priced multi-game ticket packages to attend UTA men and women's basketball events are on sale through the UTA Box Office in person or by calling (817) 272-8585 and online through UTATickets.com. Single game tickets are priced at $8, $12 and $25 per game, depending on seat location. UTA students and faculty staff tickets are available for just $5 per game. Discount Maverick Club (season) and general public (single game) parking is also available. Visit UTATickets.com for detailed information.
SPECIAL TICKET PACKAGES
Specially-priced Sun Belt game ticket packages are available for the remainder of the season through the UTA Box Office. The Sun Belt Fun Pack provides a tickets for every league men and women's game for just $45 per seat, while the Sun Belt Saturday Family Four Pack includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four small sodas for just $40 per game. The Sun Belt 3-Point Thursdays provides a ticket, small popcorn and small soda for just $10 per game.
FOLLOW THE MAVS SOCIALLY
For up-to-date news, photos, videos and updates you can follow UTA sports program online at UTAMavs.com or via any of several social media accounts on twitter @UTAMavs, Instagram @UTAMavs, Snapchat @UTAMavs and Facebook at UTArlingtonAthletics. Follow the UTA basketball programs on Twitter at @UTA_MBB and @LadyMavHoops.
