EDINBURG -- Four Broncs scored in double figures to lead the University of Texas-Pan American to a 72-62 win over the Rice University Owls in men’s basketball action at the UTPA Fieldhouse Monday night.

Rice (4-7) led early on by as many as six points, but Kyle Sanders keyed a 15-1 run that gave the Broncs (5-6) a 36-28 lead late in the second half.  UTPA never led by less than five the rest of the way.  The win was the Broncs fifth of the season, tying their total for the entire 1998-99 campaign and fourth in the last five games.  UTPA is also 5-2 at the UTPA Fieldhouse this season.

Brian Merriweather led the way for the Broncs, totaling a game-high 24 points on 10-of-16 shots from the field, including 4-of-8 from three point range.  Kyle Sanders added 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting and John Braxton had 12 points.  Matt Palmquist nearly had a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Mike Wilks led the way for the Owls with 22 points on 9-of-21 shooting, including four three-pointers.   Alex Bougaieff had 21 points and eight rebounds.  Jay Christian was the only other Owl in double figures with 10 points.

The Broncs return to action on January 6th when they travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to take on the Colorado State Rams.  UTPA will next play in Edinburg on January 10th when they host Louisiana-Lafayette at 7:30 p.m.

Rice University Owls at UT-Pan American Broncs
UTPA Fieldhouse
January 3, 2000

Rice (4-7)

No. Name                   FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A   TO BLK S  MIN
04  Brandon Evans, f       0   2    0   0     0   0    0  0  0    0   0   0   1  0   0  10
25  Kevin Craig, f         0   3    0   2     0   0    0  2  2    3   0   0   2  0   0  9
32  Ferron Morgan, c       1   2    0   0     0   0    2  1  3    3   2   0   2  0   0  15
10  Robbie Hudson, g       0   1    0   1     0   0    0  1  1    1   0   4   1  0   0  38
34  Mike Wilks, g          9   21   4   13    0   0    0  3  3    0   22  4   3  0   2  40
03  Adam Robinson          0   1    0   1     0   0    0  0  0    1   0   0   1  0   0  2
05  T.J. McKenzie          1   4    0   0     3   3    2  3  5    4   5   0   1  1   1  23
15  Jay Christian          4   10   2   5     0   0    4  1  5    2   10  2   0  0   0  29
31  Nick Robinson          1   1    0   0     0   0    0  0  0    0   2   0   0  0   0  2
44  Alex Bougaieff         8   11   0   0     5   8    3  5  8    3   21  1   2  0   0  32
    Team                                               0  1  1                             
    Totals                 24  56   6   22    8   11   11 17 28   17  62  11  13 1   3  200

Total FG% 1st Half: 11-24  .458   2nd Half: 13-32   .406   Game: .429     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-13   .385   2nd Half: 1-9     .111   Game: .273     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  4-5    .800   2nd Half: 4-6     .667   Game: .727     2

UT-Pan American (5-6)

No. Name                   FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A   TO BLK S  MIN
11  John Braxton, f        3   9    2   5     4   7    2  5  7    1   12  3   0  0   1  33
21  Kyle Sanders, f        7   12   0   0     3   4    4  1  5    4   17  1   3  0   0  35
33  Matt Palmquist, c      5   8    0   0     0   1    6  3  9    3   10  1   1  1   1  31
05  Kwasinda Curtis, g     0   3    0   2     3   4    0  2  2    1   3   2   1  0   0  18
23  Brian Merriweather, g  10  16   4   8     0   0    0  2  2    0   24  1   1  0   2  37
00  Reggie Kuzet           0   0    0   0     0   0    0  0  0    0   0   0   0  0   0  1
03  Gabe Rhoads            2   5    0   1     0   0    0  1  1    0   4   0   0  0   1  13
10  Carlos Haywood         0   0    0   0     0   0    0  1  1    0   0   1   3  0   0  10
15  Watara Banks           0   2    0   2     2   2    0  6  6    1   2   7   1  0   0  22
    Team                                               4  0  4                             
    Totals                 27  55   6   18    12  18   16 21 37   10  72  16  10 1   5  200

Total FG% 1st Half: 15-30  .500   2nd Half: 12-25   .480   Game: .491     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-10   .300   2nd Half: 3-8     .375   Game: .333     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  3-4    .750   2nd Half: 9-14    .643   Game: .667     3

Officials: Bob Jacobs, Kelly Self, Steve Carey

Technical Fouls: None
Attendance: 3,586

Score by Periods        1st   2nd   Final
Rice                    31    31    62
UTPA                    36    36    72