ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington men's basketball (6-2) came back from a 10-point first half deficit to knock off Stephen F. Austin (5-2) 66-61 at home on Saturday afternoon at the College Park Center. UTA had three players in double figures, led by sophomore guard
Cash Chavis and senior forward
Raysean Seamster, who each had 16 points apiece in the win.
"I feel like this was a big win for us," head coach
KT Turner said following the win. "It was a gritty win, we didn't play great, especially on the offensive end. To start the game, I think we came out flat, but these guys just grinded the whole game out. They were tough and I'm just proud of them. We know how to win tough games."
The Mavs struggled from the floor in the opening half, but were able to keep it close at the break, trailing 33-26 at intermission. Senior guard
Marcell McCreary scored eight of his 13 points in the first half and helped keep the Mavericks in it early on.
SFA led by as many as 10 in the first half and were paced early by guard Lateef Patrick, Jr., who had 10 of his 16 points in the opening stanza for the Lumberjacks. UTA held the Jacks to just 3-of-13 from distance (23.1%), well below their season average entering play (37.6%).
The Mavericks came out of the locker room and immediately got themselves into a rhythm. Seamster converted a three-point play to cut things to 35-31 before Chavis hit a floater to get within two at 37-35.
UTA then utilized a 9-0 run that saw a strong finish inside by sophomore
Miles Goodman, which was followed by a scintillating play from Chavis. The Arkansas transfer meticulously split a pair of defenders on his way to the basket, where he finished acrobatically to lift the Mavs to a 46-43. When they took the lead, it marked the Mavs' first since 5-3 in the early going.
It was a bit of a seesaw affair after that, as the visitors took a 49-48 lead. It was McCreary who hit a three to put the Mavs back in front. SFA then took a three-point lead as guard Keon Thompson finished through contact for a three-point play with 7:01 to go. Sophomore big man
Cameron Jackson backed his man down and scored inside to tie things at 54, and after Seamster had a block and steal on the defensive end, he scored in transition to put the Mavs up for good, 56-54.
The Mavericks were 16-of-19 from the free throw line in the second half, and finished at an 80% clip for the game (20-for-25). Chavis knocked down a pair in the final 5.7 seconds to secure the win, 66-61.
UTA hits the road and travels to Jonesboro, Arkansas, to take on Arkansas State (5-3) on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, and fans can listen live on the Varsity Network App with the Voice of the Mavs, Josh Sours on the call.
-- #BuckEm –
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