EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American overcame a cold-shooting second half and a strong Washington State run late in the game to pick up a 55-52 win in men’s basketball action Monday night at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

The Broncs (12-15) led by as many as 15 points early in the second half, but the Cougars used a strong defense and clutch free throw shooting to slowly chip away at the lead.  WSU went on an 8-0 run late in the second half to cut the lead from 10 points to two points at 50-48 with 2:37 left in the game.  Matt Palmquist made 1-of-2 free throws to put the UTPA lead back up to three points.  A Tyrone Edwards jumper with 1:33 left cut the lead to one point.  UTPA’s Brian Merriweather responded with a 10-foot jumper from the right side to give UTPA a three-point lead again.  But Mike Bush hit a short bank shot to cut the lead to one point again.

Then, it really got interesting.  John Braxton missed a pair of free throws with 23 seconds left that could have sealed the win.  Watara Banks pulled down a missed Cougar shot with seven seconds left and was immediately fouled.  Banks hit 1-of-2 free throws to put UTPA up by two.  Mike Bush then took the inbound pass and dribbled coast-to-coast, but was called for a charge with one second left.  Cougar Head Coach Paul Graham was so incensed by the call that he was charged with his second and third technical fouls of the game.  Matt Palmquist made 1-of-4 free throws and UTPA inbounded the ball successfully for the win.

Brian Merriweather led all scorers with 17 points, including three three-point baskets.  Watara Banks nearly notched a double-double with 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds.  Bush was the only Cougar in double figures with 14 points.

After shooting a solid 40.7% (11-27) in the first half, UTPA shot just 27.3% (6-22) in the second half.  The Broncs also shot a dismal 35.3% (6-17) from the free throw line, nearly letting the big lead slip away.

The Broncs wrapped up their home season with a 9-5 record and will hit the road for their final game of the season, on Saturday, March 4th at IUPUI at 1:30 p.m.  Washington State heads home to Washington to take on the University of Washington at 3 p.m. on March 4th.

Washington State University Cougars at UT-Pan American Broncs
UTPA Fieldhouse, Edinburg, Texas
February 28, 2000

Washington State (6-19)

No. Name                   FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A   TO BLK S  MIN
05  Mike Bush, f           5   10   1   2     3   4    1  5  6    3   14  0   7  1   2  36
44  Eddie Miller, f        2   7    0   0     5   9    2  3  5    5   9   1   1  1   2  17
34  Chris Crosby, c        2   12   0   4     0   0    0  2  2    4   4   3   1  0   3  37
11  Cedric Clark, g        1   4    1   3     0   0    2  2  4    3   3   3   4  0   0  37
23  David Adams, g         0   5    0   4     6   8    3  2  5    4   6   1   4  0   3  34
24  Paul Mencke            3   4    0   0     0   0    0  1  1    0   6   0   0  0   0  9
25  Milton Riley           1   2    0   0     2   2    3  3  6    0   4   0   1  1   1  8
32  Bryan Whitehead        0   1    0   0     0   0    0  0  0    0   0   0   0  0   0  5
40  Tyrone Edwards         3   3    0   0     0   1    0  2  2    2   6   1   3  0   2  17
    Team                                               1  3  4                             
    Totals                 17  48   2   13    16  24   12 23 35   21  52  9   21 3   13 200

Total FG% 1st Half: 5-27   .185   2nd Half: 12-21   .571   Game: .354     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-11   .182   2nd Half: 0-2     .000   Game: .154     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  8-10   .800   2nd Half: 8-14    .571   Game: .667     1

UT-Pan American Broncs (12-15)

No. Name                   FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A   TO BLK S  MIN
03  Watara Banks, f        3   10   1   4     8   12   1  8  9    2   15  3   7  0   4  34
11  John Braxton, f        0   4    0   2     0   2    0  3  3    2   0   0   2  0   1  25
33  Matt Palmquist, c      3   7    0   1     2   6    2  2  4    4   8   1   2  0   2  23
05  Kwasinda Curtis, g     3   4    1   2     0   0    0  3  3    3   7   4   4  0   2  35
23  Brian Merriweather, g  6   16   3   11    2   2    2  4  6    0   17  0   1  0   1  33
10  Carlos Haywood         0   1    0   0     2   2    0  1  1    2   2   0   4  0   0  17
12  Gary Booker            2   4    0   0     2   4    1  1  2    5   6   0   1  1   0  13
21  Kyle Sanders           0   3    0   0     0   1    1  0  1    2   0   1   0  0   0  20
    Team                                               6  4  10                            
    Totals                 17  49   5   20    16  29   13 26 39   20  55  9   21 1   10 200

Total FG% 1st Half: 11-27  .407   2nd Half: 6-22    .273   Game: .347     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-12   .250   2nd Half: 2-8     .250   Game: .250     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  10-12  .833   2nd Half: 6-17    .353   Game: .552     9

Officials: Larry Britton, Steve Carey, Brian Allred

Technical Fouls: WSU Bench - 3 (Coach)
Attendance: 3,175

Score by Periods        1st   2nd   Final
Washington State        20    32    52
UTPA                    35    20    55