For Immediate Release: Monday, 4 August 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director (956) 381-2240

MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM FACES TOUGH SCHEDULE IN 2003-2004

EDINBURG, TX-Fourteen home games, including eight against in-state rivals and several tough road games highlight the 2003-2004 schedule for The University of Texas-Pan American's men's basketball team.

The Broncs will play at home on 16 dates, playing two exhibition games and fourteen regular-season home contests. They will also play a neutral site game at the South Padre Island Convention Center. In all, 24 of their 28 regular season games will either played in Texas or adjoining state.

"This is one of the better schedules we've had since I've been here," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "We have 14 home games and one neutral site game. We have a very balanced schedule, with a lot of good games on the road, and a lot of good games at home. We need to get off to a good start, and good things will happen for us."

The first-semester home schedule is highlighted by visits from Southland Conference opponents Texas-Arlington and Texas-San Antonio, as well as North Texas of the Sun Belt. The Broncs will open with exhibition games against Monterrey Tech and Houston Quest, then begin regular season play against Southern Methodist of the Western Athletic Conference at South Padre Island November 22.

Texas-Pan American then returns to the UTPA Fieldhouse to play Texas A&M-International, UTA and the Southwest Assemblies of God; visits Missouri-Kansas City of the Mid-Continent Conference; and hosts UTSA. The Broncs will play three of their first four regular season games and six of their first eight at home, with one of the games away from the UTPA Fieldhouse being the neutral site contest against SMU.

"I wanted to try to play early on at home," said Hoffman. "When you have a new bunch like we have, with several new faces on the team, it helps you get some confidence and helps you get going. It tends to give you a boost when you go on the road, and feel good about what you're doing."

After hosting Texas-San Antonio, the Broncs will play eight of their next ten games on the road. North Texas of the Sun Belt visits the UTPA Fieldhouse December 17th, and in-state rival McMurry visits on New Year's Eve. The Broncs' road itinerary will include trips to NCAA Tournament participants Oklahoma State and Oklahoma of the Big 12, Big 12 foe Baylor, Mississippi Valley State of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Sam Houston State of the Southland, WAC opponent Rice and Wright State of the Horizon League, as well as North Texas.

"The good thing about that stretch is that we'll be traveling when school is not in session," said Hoffman. "We'll be playing some good teams in some tough places to play, and it will be a great experience for our players and for our program."

After visiting Wright State, the Broncs will play eight of their next ten games at home. In addition to UMKC and fellow independent Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne, Texas-Pan American will host Alcorn State of the SWAC, Lamar of the Southland, Arkansas State of the Sun Belt, Air Force of the Mountain West Conference, independent Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and area rival Central Baptist. During that period, UTPA will visit UTA and IPFW before ending the regular season with a pair of road games at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Arkansas State.

"We have a lot of tough games," said Hoffman. "OU , OSU and Baylor of the Big 12 will probably be the toughest games, but we also play Wright State, Air Force and Rice. We're playing a lot of teams we used to play all the time, and we play a lot of in-state teams, so it should be fun for our fans."

The Broncs will play doubleheaders on five occasions. The first two home games (November 25th against Texas A&M-International and November 29th against UTA) and the final two home contests (against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi February 16th and Central Baptist February 19th) will be preceded by Lady Bronc basketball games, while the November 4th exhibition game against Monterrey Tech will be preceded by the final UTPA home volleyball match of the season, a Senior Night contest against Texas A&M-Kingsville.

With 16 dates at home, and another close by at South Padre Island, Bronc fans will get to see a lot of their team. "It worked out well," said Hoffman. "One of the main things is trying to have games every week, especially during the second semester, when most teams are playing conference games. It's a good schedule."

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2003-2004 TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE