UT Arlington tops UT Pan American to kick off homestand

By Sam Morton

Special to the Star-Telegram

ARLINGTON — — For the second time this season, the UT Arlington men’s basketball team took the opening tip and rolled past UT Pan American. Only this time, they did it with a little style.

The Mavericks opened a four-game homestand with a 17-2 run and plowed past an overmatched Pan American team 63-48 at the College Park Center.

“Proud to get on a win streak because we haven’t had that all year,” coach Scott Cross said. “Even though we let down a little in the second half, I still think we did some good things.”

A 39-point first half put UTA in a comfortable position to ride out their fourth straight win, even though the second half left much to be desired. They allowed multiple fast break lay-ins and only scored 24 points during the second half, yet their lead never got below double digits.

“That’s not the way we want to play,” guard Cameron Catlett said. “We pride ourselves on playing tough defense and getting in there, but we let down the intensity in the second half.”

Suddenly, the terrible-at-home Mavericks have won three straight in their arena and sit in a prime position to make a run at a top-three spot in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament. After dropping to a pitiful 2-6 home record a month ago, the Mavericks have won six of their last seven games and are playing at a high level at the right time.

Fresh off a big game in Seattle, where he sank the game-winning free throws, Jordan Reves elevated his game even more. The senior center scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead UTA in both categories. Kevin Butler started off with seven of UTA’s first nine points, but he only scored two more the rest of the way.

Pan American’s Jesus Delgado scored 17 points and Brandon Provost added 16.

The Mavs won 60-51 at UTPA on Dec. 3.

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