For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 15, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director (956) 381-2240

BRONCS ADD TWO TALL RECRUITS FOR THE FALL

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's men's basketball team has added two more recruits for the fall.

Alvaidas Gedminas, a seven-foot center from Plunge, Lithuania, Laivite High School and Kirtland Community College in Roscommon, Michigan, and Ryan Lange, a 6-11 center from Inwood, Iowa, West Lyon High School and Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska, will join the Broncs this fall. Both Gedminas and Lange will enter as juniors, with two years of eligibility.

Gedminas averaged a double-double last season for the Firebirds, scoring 12.6 points per game and grabbing 12.3 rebounds per game as KCC advanced to the Michigan Community College Athletic Association playoffs. Gedminas ranked fifth in rebounding in Division I of the National Junior College Athletic Association, was named All-Region XII, was All-Conference, and was his team's Most Valuable Player. He was nominated for NJCAA All-American honors.

"Alvaidas brings size, strength and rebounding prowess to our team," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "He has done a great job in junior college, he rebounds at a high level, and he will definitely help give us a presence inside. Alvaidas is very good around the basket. He does a good job of being active on the boards, as he's not only tall, but also big. He will take up a lot of space, and be able to occupy the middle."

"Alvaidas has made tremendous strides as a student and as an athlete, and he will be very good at UTPA," said KCC Head Coach Glen Donahue. "I have no doubt that he will be a rebounding machine at your level. We will look for even more progress when he gets to UTPA."

Lange averaged eight points, five rebounds and four blocked shots per game as the Hawks posted a 21-10 record and advanced to the second round of the Region IX Tournament under Head Coach Dan Anderson. Northeast CC's Most Improved Player as a freshman, he won the Shot Blocker Award as a sophomore. A good student, Lange made the Dean's List.

The school record holder in blocked shots at West Lyon High School, Lange averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots per game while playing for Head Coach Brian Brands. He plans to major in Mechanical Engineering at Texas-Pan American.

"Ryan is very athletic and can run the floor," said Hoffman. "He's very quick up and down the floor, and he has good footwork and does a good job of making post moves. He has the ability to make people change their shots in the lane, he is relentless in attacking the basket offensively, and he can put a lot of pressure on the other team's big men by making them have to run the floor."

Lange and Gedminas are the fourth and fifth players to sign with Texas-Pan American this season. They join Sergio Sanchez and Ray Castillo from Temple College in Temple, Texas, who signed with UTPA this spring, and Patrick Andrepont from LaGrange High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, who signed with the Broncs last fall.

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