TULSA, Oklahoma – UT Arlington men's basketball (8-4) concluded its non-conference slate and finished up a four-game road swing Monday night with a 69-57 win at Oral Roberts (5-10) from the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Senior guard Marcell McCreary led the way for the Mavs with 16 points, hitting 4-of-7 from distance in the win. It marked his ninth game in his last 10 in double figures.
 
UTA picked up its fourth road win of the season Monday, eclipsing the team's total of three from last season. The Mavs clamped down defensively, holding Oral Roberts to just 30.9% shooting and the nation's fourth-best defense against the three-point shot held the Golden Eagles to just 2-of-20 (10.0%) from beyond the arc.
 
"I was very happy on the defensive end," head coach KT Turner said following the win. "We've got some stuff to clean up with our turnovers on the offensive end. But holding these guys to 20for-20 from the three-point line is huge for us. I think after this game our three-point percentage defense might be number one in the country after tonight. We made it a point as a coaching staff to make sure we were locked in because the last two Christmases we got blown out – at North Texas and Liberty. We weren't focused both of those games, so we made it a point coming on this trip that these guys were focused and not focused on going out of town and seeing family and stuff."
 
The Mavs controlled the majority of the first half, taking an eight-point advantage into the break, 35-27. They opened play with a 9-4 run, buoyed by sophomore forward/center Cameron Jackson, who scored four quick points. The teams traded the lead on four occasions, with UTA stretching to its biggest lead to close the half.
 
UTA shot 57.1% from the field (12-of-21) and 4-for-8 from distance, including a timely triple from senior guard Marcell McCreary to put the Mavs on top 27-23. Sophomore forward/center Miles Goodman scored four of his five first half points in the final minute to push the lead to 35-27.
 
Defensively the Mavericks were stifling in the opening period, holding the Golden Eagles to 37.0% from the field (10-of-27) and held ORU to 1-of-11 from distance in the first stanza.
 
In addition to McCreary's big night, sophomore guard Cash Chavis added 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.
 
UTA opened the second half the same way as they opened the game – on a 9-4 run. They stretched their lead to as many as 16 when Goodman finished on a hook shot for two of his seven points. Oral Roberts then went on an 11-2 run, cutting the lead to seven at 50-43. McCreary buried one of his four triples to get it back to double digits, ending a nearly five-minute scoreless span for the Mavericks.
 
"Kudos to our coaches," McCreary said postgame. "They did a good job with their job, giving us a good scout and we were going out there and at least doing it at least on one side of the ball on defense. They get about 30 threes a game and that was a main key for us to not let them get those up. We can stay in front of the ball – I know our two-point field goal percentage defense is not as good, but if a team is based off shooting, it should be a good game for us."
 
The Golden Eagles chipped away and got it as close as five, but another McCreary three, this on a catch-and-shoot on an assist by freshman guard Jordan Lowery extended the lead to 57-49, and UTA never let off the gas again. A putback dunk by sophomore guard Bahsil Laster got things back to 10, as the Mavs cruised in the final minutes to a 69-57 win.
 
Turner, who won his 41^st career game on Monday night, picked up his first career head coaching win against Oral Roberts in his first game at the helm of the UTA program back on Nov. 6, 2023 (75-71 at the College Park Center).
 
The Mavs are now ready to embark on their WAC season, tipping off back home at the College Park Center on Monday, Dec. 29, when they host Tarleton State at 7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and on the radio on the Varsity Network App with the Voice of the Mavs, Josh Sours on the call. Fans can purchase tickets here.
   
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