For Immediate Release: December 30, 2001
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS HIT 100 MARK AGAIN IN WIN OVER SCHREINER

EDINBURG, TX–It’s been 24 years since the University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball team has scored 100 points in two consecutive games.

The Broncs duplicated that feat Sunday, scoring 100 points for the second game in a row when they downed Schreiner, 107-79 at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

After getting off to a slow start, the Broncs turned it on in the first half, outscoring Schreiner, 23-5 during a span of 9:23 during the first half. Senior guard Mire Chatman (Garland, TX/South Garland HS/ Southwestern Christian JC) had eight points during the run as the Broncs increased their lead from five points to 23, 47-24, with 3:10 remaining. Chatman contributed a pair of free throws and three layups during the run, helping UTPA open up a 56-32 halftime advantage.

The total was the Broncs’ highest since they defeated Schreiner, 113-86, last season. It was the second game in a row UTPA has broken the century mark. The Broncs defeated LeTourneau Saturday night, 101-56. It was the first time in 24 years that UTPA has scored 100 points or more in consecutive games, since they scored 105 at Hardin-Simmons and 101 at Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) during the 1977-78 season.

 “I especially liked the way we passed the ball today,” said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. “We had almost 30 assists today, and that shows we were looking for each other. We were a little tired today after playing last night, but you have to give credit to Schreiner. They executed their plays well, and we had trouble with some of the things they did. We were 9-2 in December, and that’s a good time of the year to do that, around the holidays, with your friends and family all around. I’m happy for our guys, and I hope that 2002 is as good to us as 2001 was.”

Chatman led all scorers with 24 points in just 23 minutes of action. Junior forward Andrius Sakalys (Vilnius, Lithuania/M.Dauksos HS/Eastern Oklahoma State) added 18 points in 14 minutes, senior forward DeFrance Gurley (Cairo, GA/Cairo HS/Southern Union State CC) added 12, junior forward Jon Nubine (Oklahoma City, OK/Putnam City North HS/Carl Albert JC) added 11, and senior forward Marcus Quinn (Midwest City, OK/Choctaw HS/Eastern Oklahoma State) had 10. Quinn had eight rebounds, as UTPA outrebounded the Mountaineers, 41-35. Junior guard Kevin Mitchell (Copperas Cove, TX/Copperas Cove HS/McLennan CC), who had a career-high ten assists Saturday night, added nine more against Schreiner.

Chris Borak led Schreiner with 21 points. Clint Lott added 20, and Brian Stickel had 14.

The Broncs improved to 13-3 with the victory, while the Mountaineers dropped to 1-7. UTPA will return to action when they visit Texas Wednesday evening.

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