UTA hosts UC Irving in Bracketbusters game Saturday

Posted Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 0 comments  Print Reprints
A

More information

UTA vs. UC Irvine

5 p.m. Saturday , College Park Center

Records: UTA 15-9, UC Irvine 15-13

Radio: KKDA/730 AM


Have more to add? News tip? Tell us

The UT Arlington men’s team hosts its first Bracketbusters game at 5 p.m. Saturday when UC Irvine makes its first visit to College Park Center.

Both teams are peaking with less than three weeks to go in the regular season. UTA has won five straight games while the Anteaters have won five of their last seven, including Wednesday’s 68-59 win over Pacific, when they hit their last six 3-pointers to bury the Tigers.

UTA is paced by Kevin Butler, who’s emerged over the last five games as the shooter the Mavericks have been looking for all season. He’s scoring 17.8 points per game in that span and he’s closing his collegiate career out on a high note. He’s finally provided the offensive spark that the defensive-minded Mavericks needed to get on a roll.

Guided by athletic guard play and a textbook Scott Cross mindset, the Mavericks have held teams to a 36.7 percent field-goal percentage. Cross said he expects more of the same against the Anteaters — hold them under 40 percent.

“We have a pretty consistent style where we’re picking them up, doing our 2-2-1, back to switching to man-to-man,” he said. “Playing with speed and transition.”

Butler’s offensive improvement has opened up easier shots for the rest of the Mavericks, who shot 45 percent against UT Pan American on Wednesday. Jordan Reves has benefited from his emergence, reviving his season with 9.4 points and 9.8 rebounds during the streak.

Daman Starring is the Anteaters’ primary scorer, averaging 13.6 points per game.

Looking for comments?

We welcome your comments on this story, but please be civil. Do not use profanity, hate speech, threats, personal abuse, images, internet links or any device to draw undue attention. Comments deemed inappropriate will be removed and repeated abusers will be banned. NOTE: If you log in using your Twitter account, your comments will be signed using the name on your Twitter profile, NOT your Twitter user name. Read our full comment policy.



Friday, May 24Full Scoreboard
Philadelphia2Final | Box
Washington «5
Baltimore «10Final | Box
Toronto6
Minnesota0Final | Box
Detroit «6
Cleveland1Final | Box
Boston «8
Chicago Cubs4Final | Box
Cincinnati «7
Atlanta5Suspended | Box
NY Mets5
NY Yankees «9Final | Box
Tampa Bay4
Miami3Final(11) | Box
Chicago WSox «4
Oakland «6Final | Box
Houston5
LA Angels «5Final | Box
Kansas City2
Pittsburgh1Final | Box
Milwaukee «2
San Diego2Final | Box
Arizona «5
St. Louis «7Final | Box
Los Angeles0
Texas «9Final | Box
Seattle5
Colorado «5Final | Box
San Francisco0
Full Scoreboard
Friday, May 24Full Scoreboard
Indiana «97Final | Box
Miami93
Eastern Conference Finals, Game Two. Series tied, 1-1.
Full Scoreboard
Week 1Full Scoreboard
Sunday
Miami 8:00 PM ET
Dallas TV: NBC
Full Scoreboard
Friday, May 24Full Scoreboard
Ottawa2Final | Box
Pittsburgh «6
Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game Five. Pittsburgh wins series, 4-1.
Full Scoreboard