EDINBURG – Brian Merriweather scored 22 points to lead all scorers and Kyle Sanders added 19 as the University of Texas-Pan American held off a spirited Wright State University squad for a 63-60 win in men’s basketball action at the UTPA Fieldhouse Saturday night.

Merriweather, a junior from Evansville, Ind., made just 6-of-17 shots from the field against tight defensive pressure, but hit on 4-of-11 from three-point range.  Sanders was strong inside for the Broncs, making 8-of-13 shots from the field and pulled down seven rebounds.  Senior Matt Palmquist had 10 points, seven rebounds and five blocks in 34 minutes of playing time.  For the Raiders Israel Sheinfeld had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead the team in both categories.

The Broncs went into the locker room with a one-point lead at the half, but came out strong to start the second period.  After the Raiders took a 32-31 lead, UTPA went on a 13-1 run to take a 44-33 lead.  The Broncs still led by nine, 52-43, with 10:11 left in the game before the Raiders made one last run.  WSU went on an 11-2 run to cut the Bronc lead to just one at 55-54 with 3:31 left.  But Merriweather made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.

“I just think we just executed a little better down the stretch,” said assistant coach Clay Martin.  “Against Oral Roberts we got some shots that we wouldn’t have liked to have taken, but tonight Watara Banks came in and did a great job.”

The Broncs will now hit the road for a four-game trip.  They will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on the University of Alabama-Birmingham on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m.  UAB is now 2-1 after defeating Georgia Southern 84-77 Saturday night.

Wright State vs. UT-Pan American Broncs
UTPA Fieldhouse
November 27, 1999

Wright State (0-3)

No. Name                   FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A   TO BLK S  MIN
05  John Watkins, f        1   7    0   2     0   0    1  3  4    0   2   0   4  0   0  25
40  Thomas Hope, f         1   2    1   2     2   2    0  5  5    5   5   1   4  0   3  35
10  Israel Sheinfeld, c    5   17   0   3     7   8    3  5  8    3   17  3   5  1   5  35
12  Tyson Freeman, g       0   2    0   2     2   2    1  1  2    5   2   0   1  0   0  11
13  Joe Bills, g           6   9    4   7     0   0    0  3  3    4   16  3   6  0   1  37
20  Marcus May             5   12   3   4     3   4    1  2  3    3   16  1   3  0   4  34
25  Steve Yeagle           0   1    0   1     0   0    0  0  0    0   0   0   0  0   0  7
52  Bruno Petersons        1   2    0   0     0   0    1  3  4    0   2   1   0  2   0  16
    Team                                               2  1  3                             
    Totals                 19  52   8   21    14  16   9  23 32   20  60  9   23 3   13 200

Total FG% 1st Half: 10-27  .370   2nd Half: 9-25    .360   Game: .365     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-13   .308   2nd Half: 4-8     .500   Game: .381     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  6-6   1.000   2nd Half: 8-10    .800   Game: .875     1

UT-Pan American Broncs (1-1)

No. Name                   FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A   TO BLK S  MIN
11  John Braxton, f        0   6    0   4     1   4    0  2  2    1   1   3   6  0   5  27
21  Kyle Sanders, f        8   13   0   0     3   5    4  3  7    2   19  0   1  1   2  37
33  Matt Palmquist, c      5   7    0   0     0   0    2  5  7    3   10  1   2  5   1  34
05  Kwasinda Curtis, g     1   4    0   1     1   2    1  6  7    1   3   4   2  0   2  34
23  Brian Merriweather, g  6   17   4   11    6   7    0  2  2    2   22  1   3  0   2  36
10  Carlos Haywood         0   0    0   0     0   0    0  2  2    0   0   4   2  0   1  8
12  Gary Booker            4   4    0   0     0   2    1  2  3    1   8   0   1  0   1  8
15  Watara Banks           0   1    0   0     0   0    0  1  1    1   0   4   4  0   2  16
    Team                                               2  2  4                             
    Totals                 24  52   4   16    11  20   10 25 35   11  63  17  21 6   16 200

Total FG% 1st Half: 12-29  .414   2nd Half: 12-23   .522   Game: .462     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-10   .300   2nd Half: 1-6     .167   Game: .250     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  4-5    .800   2nd Half: 7-15    .467   Game: .550     4

Officials: Art Brown, Sean Casey, Bobby Bisant

Technical Fouls: None
Attendance: 2,514

Score by Periods        1st   2nd   Final
Wright State            30    30    60
UTPA                    31    32    63