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For Immediate Release: December 27, 2001 HOUSTON, TX–In
their third season under Head Coach Bob Hoffman, the University of
Texas-Pan American men’s basketball has made their home court a place
that opponents fear to tread. Now, the Broncs are starting to
become comfortable away from home as well. UTPA shot a torrid 51.7 per
cent from the field and 47.1 per cent from three-point range as they
defeated host Rice, 81-64, at Autry Court Thursday evening. The win was
the Broncs’ second in five road games this season, but improved their
record away from the UTPA Fieldhouse to 5-3. UTPA has now won four of
their last five games away from home, the only blemish coming when they
dropped a 70-67 heartbreaker at Washington State December 7th. The
Broncs never trailed Thursday night. UTPA got an early three-pointer
from senior guard Mire Chatman (Garland, TX/South Garland
HS/Southwestern Christian JC) and a pair of treys from junior guard
Kevin Mitchell (Copperas Cove, TX/Copperas Cove HS/McLennan CC) to lead,
13-6, with six minutes gone in the first half. UTPA opened a 25-14 lead midway
through the first half before the Owls came back, using a 13-4 run to
cut it to 29-27, Broncs, with 3:52 left before halftime. But Mitchell connected on
another three-pointer, junior forward Terrell Hill (Carnegie,
OK/Carnegie HS/Seward County CC) hit a reverse layup and added a free
throw, and Chatman stole the ball, broke away from the field and slammed
it home to make it 37-30, UTPA, at intermission. The Broncs started off the
second half as they ended the first, outscoring Rice, 25-13 at the start
of the half to take a 62-43 lead with 9:43 to play. UTPA led by 25
points, 81-56, with a minute left before the Owls scored the final six
points of the game. “We executed our game plan
very well, and did a very good job of playing possession basketball,”
said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. “(Assistant) Coach (Mark) Vancuren
did a great job on our scouting reports, and we did a good job of paying
attention to detail. In the second half, we ran different people at
them, and we did a good job of pressuring the ball , and that resulted
in us getting some steals and layups.” Chatman led UTPA with 23
points, nine assists and three steals, making seven of 12 shots from the
field and playing all but one minute. “Onwe thing that shows how
well we played is the fact that we had 21 assists,” said Hoffman.
“Mire had nine assists, and he could have had a few more, we fumbled
the ball a few times. If he continues to distribute the ball like that,
it’ll be a great help to our offense.” Mitchell added 15 points, five
assists and five steals, making four of five attempts from three-point
range. Junior forward Andrius Sakalys (Vilnius, Lithuania/M. Dauksos
HS/Eastern Oklahoma State) added 14 points, while Hill added 11. Sakalys,
Hill and junior forward Jon Nubine (Oklahoma City, OK/Putnam City North
HS/Carl Albert JC) each grabbed six rebounds as the Broncs won the
battle of the boards, 31-30. Jason McKrieth had 22 points to
lead the Owls, while T.J. McKenzie added 14 The 17-point win represented
the Broncs’ largest margin of victory in a road game since they won at
Oral Roberts two years ago, 79-62, ending their long road losing streak. UTPA
improved to 11-3 with the victory, their sixth consecutive win, while
Rice dropped to 4-5 and saw a seven-game home court winning streak
end. The
Broncs will return to action when they host LeTourneau Saturday night at
7:30 p.m. as part of UTPA’s homecoming festivities. Sunday, the Broncs
host Schreiner at 3:00 p.m. in the second half of a doubleheader that
opens when they Lady Broncs host Schreiner at 1:00. “It would be great if we
could have a full house this Saturday night,” said Hoffman. “Hopefully,
the people in the valley will come out and get excited.” MBBRICE122701 |