MBB: Mavs Ring in New Year with Gritty Performance Over CBU - University of Texas Arlington Athletics

Thursday, January 1

Arlington, TX

2 PM (CT)

University of Texas Arlington

9-5,1-1WAC

California Baptist

10-5,0-2WAC

Team	1	2	F
California Baptist	26	25	51
UT Arlington	28	35	63

Postgame Press Conference Highlights Postgame Radio Interview (Turner)Game Notes

1/1/2026 4:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Box Score (PDF)Postgame Press Conference Season Stats WAC-Only Stats

ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington men's basketball (9-5, 1-1 WAC) bounced back in a big way on New Year's Day, knocking off California Baptist (10-5, 0-2 WAC) 63-51 on Thursday in Arlington. Three Mavs scored in double figures, led by senior guard Marcell McCreary (14 points and six rebounds with three steals), senior forward Raysean Seamster (13 points, six boards and five steals) and sophomore guard Bahsil Laster (12 points and four rebounds).

The Mavericks took care of the basketball on Thursday, turning the ball over a season-low 10 times, and outrebounded the Lancers 33-30, holding one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the country to just seven.

"I'm just proud of these guys and how they responded," head coach KT Turner said following the game. "We talked about responding from the Tarleton game and not going 0-2 to start conference off. These guys really responded. We talked about turning it into a street fight. I don't care about offense, we've got to guard these guys, we've got to rebound, we've got to be physical with them and I felt like we did that. I'm just proud of how these guys responded and how they fought and show what they're capable of doing and we've got to continue to show it."

UTA raced out to a 9-0 lead and 12-3 start behind a spirited defensive effort as the Mavs turned eight CBU turnovers into 10 first half points. McCreary turned in a 12-point effort in the first half, including a fallaway jumper as time expired in the half to give the Mavs a two-point lead. He was 5-of-7 from the floor in the opening period.

UTA and the Lancers traded the lead early in the second half, but it was UTA who eventually pulled away, thanks largely in part to a 9-0 run over the final 1:53. The Mavs were nearly flawless at the free throw line, converting on 20-of-23, including 15-of-16 in the second half.

Laster hit a big triple to extend the lead to 57-51, and then knocked down two of his six free throws to make it an eight-point advantage just one possession later. The Mavs clamped down defensively, holding the Lancers without a field goal in the final 2:24. UTA, the nation's best defensive team against the three according to KenPom, held CBU to just 3-of-13 from distance (23.7%). WAC Player of the Year Dominique Daniels, Jr. scored a game-high 25, and hit all three of those three-pointers, but UTA held down the rest of his teammates.

The Mavs will now travel to the Beehive State to take on Southern Utah on Saturday night at 7:30 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.

-- #BuckEm –

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