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For Immediate Release: Monday, December 23, 2002 BRONCS BASKETBALL HEADED TO ALOHA STATE EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American men's basketball team will face tough competition this weekend at the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Broncs will open with undefeated Butler University on Saturday. Tip-off will be at 9:00 p.m. central. Hawaii from the Western Athletic Conference, Western Kentucky from the Sun Belt Conference, Chicago State from the Mid-Continent Conference, and Alcorn State from the Southwest Athletic Conference will be among the teams in the tournament. Butler brings an 8-0 record into the tournament and is 41st in the latest RPI Power Index, while Hawaii is 4-1. "The tournament has a great field, and a great history," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. We're very fortunate to be a part of it, and to play against some great teams." Texas-Pan American brings a record of 4-8 into the tournament, and has won two of their last three games. On Saturday, the Broncs dropped a 67-63 overtime decision at Lamar after trailing 58-48 with two minutes left but scored the last ten points of regulation to force overtime. Senior guard Kevin Mitchell (Copperas Cove, TX/Copperas Cove HS/McLennan CC) leads UTPA in scoring with 14.8 points per game. Junior forward Allen Holcomb (Chicago, IL /Steinmetz HS/Allen County CC) averages 11.1 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game, while sophomore guard Eric Montalvo (La Joya, TX/La Joya HS) scores 9.5 points per game. "All of our guys are continuing to play well," said Hoffman. We're getting better, but need to finish some games." Butler is outscoring its opposition 68-50.2 points per game, and has three players scoring in double figures. Brandon Miller paces the Bulldogs with 12 points per game, and team-highs with 27 assists and 12 steals. Darnell Archey and Duane Lightfoot average 11.9 and 10.5 points respectively. "Butler shoots the ball well," said Bob Hoffman. "They have beaten a lot of great teams already. We hope the neutral floor will help us get a good upset against a really good team." Following the first round of the tournament, UT Pan American will play either Chicago State or Western Kentucky on Sunday at 4:30 or 9:00 p.m.
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