Pictures from the Game

TULSA, OKLA. -- The streak is over!  After nearly five years and 64 games, the University of Texas-Pan American men's basketball team defeated Oral Roberts University 79-62 at the Mabee Center Saturday night, ending the Broncs NCAA record road losing streak.

The last time UTPA had gone on the road and picked up a win was on February 27, 1995, against Lamar University by a 58-54 count.  The Broncs made sure that this one wouldn't be as close, leading by as much as 25 points before settling for their 17 point margin.

After a close opening 14 minutes the Broncs went on a 16-4 run to lead by 37-27 at the half.  Brian Merriweather and Matt Palmquist each scored six points during a 15-0 run for the Broncs to start the second half.  The run gave UTPA a 52-27 lead, but the Golden Eagles wouldn't give in.  They responded with a 17-2 run of their own to cut the lead to 54-44 with 10:23 left in the game.  But Merriweather made sure there would be no comeback, hitting three three-point baskets over the next 1:50 to extend the UTPA lead to 64-47.  UTPA was never headed after that.

The win was especially sweet for Head Coach Bob Hoffman, who coached in Oklahoma at Oklahoma Baptist for the last nine years.  "This is a great win for the program and the university.  I'm grateful to have the opportunity to see the smiles on the players' faces after the win.  I'm just honored to be a part of this win."

Merriweather finished with a game-high 26 points, one of four Broncs to score in double figures.  Merriweather, who ranks first in the nation in three-point baskets per game, made 5-of-9 from three-point range.  Watara Banks scored 13 and had five assists, John Braxton scored 11 points, pulled down seven rebounds and had three assists, and Matt Palmquist scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds.  Eric Perry led the way for ORU with 17 points, four rebounds, five assists and six steals.

For the game, UTPA shot 57.4% (31-54) from the field, a season best, including 63.0% (17-27) in the second half.  The Broncs held the Golden Eagles to just 36.7% (22-60) shooting from the field and just 30.3% (10-33) in the second half.

UTPA will return to action on Monday, January 17th at Louisiana-Lafayette at 7:05 p.m.

UT-Pan American Broncs at Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Mabee Center, Tulsa, Okla.
January 15, 2000

UT-Pan American Broncs (7-9)

No. Name                   FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A   TO BLK S  MIN
11  John Braxton, f        3   4    1   1     4   6    1  6  7    4   11  3   4  0   2  30
21  Kyle Sanders, f        2   7    0   0     0   0    1  2  3    3   4   1   2  0   1  34
33  Matt Palmquist, c      5   7    0   0     0   0    1  6  7    4   10  0   3  1   1  23
05  Kwasinda Curtis, g     2   4    0   0     2   6    0  5  5    4   6   6   4  0   1  33
23  Brian Merriweather, g  10  18   5   9     1   2    1  4  5    2   26  0   2  0   1  35
10  Carlos Haywood         2   3    0   0     0   0    0  1  1    0   4   0   2  0   0  13
12  Gary Booker            2   2    0   0     1   1    0  1  1    1   5   0   0  0   0  4
15  Watara Banks           5   9    0   2     3   3    1  0  1    4   13  5   1  0   2  28
    Team                                               2  3  5                             
    Totals                 31  54   6   12    11  18   7  28 35   22  79  15  18 1   8  200

Total FG% 1st Half: 14-27  .519   2nd Half: 17-27   .630   Game: .574     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-4    .500   2nd Half: 4-8     .500   Game: .500     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  7-9    .778   2nd Half: 4-9     .444   Game: .611     3, 2

Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (7-9)

No. Name                   FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A   TO BLK S  MIN
21  Derrick Taylor, f      1   8    0   0     1   2    2  7  9    4   3   4   2  1   3  33
33  Leon Irving, f         5   9    0   0     3   3    2  3  5    2   13  0   1  6   0  33
03  Reggie Tate, c         5   15   2   7     1   2    1  2  3    4   13  3   0  0   0  34
25  Eric Perry, g          6   11   1   4     4   5    0  4  4    4   17  5   4  0   6  37
32  Nathan Binam, g        1   4    1   4     0   0    0  1  1    0   3   1   3  0   0  19
04  Josh Atkinson          4   10   0   4     5   6    2  1  3    1   13  1   0  0   1  22
11  Micah Ratzlaff         0   1    0   0     0   0    1  0  1    1   0   1   0  0   0  5
14  Marques Warrior        0   0    0   0     0   0    0  0  0    0   0   0   1  0   0  3
20  Da'Monn Sanders        0   1    0   0     0   0    0  0  0    2   0   0   1  0   0  12
23  Gerald Burris          0   1    0   0     0   0    1  1  2    0   0   0   1  1   0  2
    Team                                               1  1  2                             
    Totals                 22  60   4   19    14  18   10 20 30   18  62  15  15 8   10 200

Total FG% 1st Half: 12-27  .444   2nd Half: 10-33   .303   Game: .367     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 1-7    .143   2nd Half: 3-12    .250   Game: .211     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  2-2   1.000   2nd Half: 12-16   .750   Game: .778     2

Officials: John Cobb, Jack Lyman, Tom Svehla

Technical Fouls: None.
Attendance: 4,385

Score by Periods        1st   2nd   Final
UTPA                    37    42    79
Oral Roberts            27    35    62