BOILING SPRINGS, NC-One of the best home court advantages in NCAA Division I basketball held true Saturday night.

The University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball team became host Gardner-Webb’s 29^th consecutive victim, falling to the Bulldogs, 86-79, at the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center.

The Broncs took an early lead, but the Bulldogs fought back, taking the lead for good towards the end of the first half.  They seized a 10-point lead at 44-34 with 2:04 to play before halftime, and the Broncs cut it to five points, 45-40, at intermission.

The Bulldogs caught fire early in the second half, taking a 58-44 lead with 14:24 to go before UTPA fought back. Senior center Marcus Quinn (Midwest City, OK/Choctaw HS/Eastern Oklahoma State) ignited the run with a dunk, and junior guard Kevin Mitchell (Copperas Cove, TX/Copperas Cove HS/McLennan CC) followed with a three-pointer. Sophomore guard Nick Traylor (Oklahoma City, OK/Putnam City HS/Northwestern Oklahoma State) followed with another trey, and Mitchell hit a pair of free throws.

The Broncs trailed by 10, 72-62 with 5:19 remaining, and once again came back. Senior guard Mire Chatman (Garland, TX/South Garland HS/Southwestern Christian JC) hit two jumpers and added a free throw, Traylor canned a three-pointer, and Chatman hit two more free throws. It was suddenly 76-72, GWU, but the Broncs could come no closer.

“They’re a good team, they’re well-coached, and they hit a lot of good shots,” said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. “We fought hard and came close, but every time we cut it to four points, we just couldn’t get over the hump. They were 50 per cent from the three-point line, and I thought they never missed one, every time we made a run, they would hit a three. We found Marcus early, but then we couldn’t get it in to him, and you have to give them credit. Whenever they got us out of position a little but, they hit a shot, and that’s what we usually do to other teams. A lot of our guys stepped up and had good games, but they just made a lot of big shots. That’s why they’ve won as many home games in a row as they have.”

Chatman led UTPA with 31 points and four steals, Quinn added 15 points and 12 rebounds, Traylor had 12 points, and Mitchell had 11 points and six assists.

Bruce Fields led the Bulldogs with 19 points, Otis Daniels added 18, and Eli Strait had 12.

The Broncs fell to 20-9 with the defeat, and GWU improved to 17-8. UTPA will return home for the final game of the regular season Monday, February 25^th against Centenary.

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