UT-Pan American Men's Basketball Stays Close, But Arkansas Holds on for 70-56 Win
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — The University of Texas-Pan American gave the University of Arkansas a major scare, but was unable to pull off the upset and fell to the Razorbacks 70-56, in men’s basketball action Wednesday night at Alltell Arena.
Brian Merriweather led the upset bid with 28 points and a season-high eight three-pointers for the Broncs. Merriweather has made at least two three-pointers in every game this season. He was the only Bronc to score in double figures.
The Broncs led by as many as three points in the first half and went on an 8-0 run to end the half down by a 30-27 count. UTPA continued to stay close and when Matt Palmquist hit one of two free throws with 16:44 left the Broncs trailed by just two points. But the Razorbacks responded with a 10-0 run and UTPA never got closer than five the rest of the way.
Three Razorbacks scored in double figures in the game, led by T.J. Cleveland with 18 points. Brandon Dean and Teddy Gipson had 17 points and 11 points respectively.
With the loss UTPA dropped to 1-5 on the season, while Arkansas improved to 5-2. UTPA will return home on Monday, December 20, to the UTPA Fieldhouse for the first game in a five-game homestand when they face Mary-Hardin-Baylor at 7:30 p.m.
Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS Texas-Pan American vs Arkansas 12/15/99 8:05 p.m. at Alltel Arena - North Little Rock, Ark. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VISITORS: Texas-Pan American 1-5 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUND ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 05 Kwasinda Curtis..... * 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 4 0 3 8 0 0 17 11 John Braxton........ * 1-4 1-4 0-0 0 3 3 5 3 3 3 0 2 25 21 Kyle Sanders........ * 1-5 0-0 2-2 0 5 5 3 4 0 4 0 1 38 23 Brian Merriweather.. * 10-20 8-14 0-0 0 2 2 2 28 1 4 0 0 35 33 Matt Palmquist...... * 1-4 0-0 4-6 1 2 3 1 6 0 2 0 1 21 10 Carlos Haywood...... 0-4 0-0 3-4 4 5 9 3 3 4 4 0 0 25 12 Gary Booker......... 3-6 0-0 0-0 4 2 6 2 6 0 1 1 1 17 24 Watara Banks........ 2-5 0-1 2-2 0 3 3 1 6 3 6 1 3 22 TEAM................ 2 2 4 Totals.............. 18-48 9-19 11-14 11 26 37 21 56 14 32 2 8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 18-48 37.5% Game: 37.5% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 9-19 47.4% Game: 47.4% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 11-14 78.6% Game: 78.6% 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOME TEAM: Arkansas 5-2 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUND ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 05 T.J. Cleveland...... * 5-14 5-11 3-4 1 4 5 2 18 4 2 0 5 35 13 Brandon Dean........ * 7-9 0-0 3-4 2 2 4 2 17 5 4 1 3 28 23 Teddy Gipson........ * 5-11 0-3 1-4 1 3 4 3 11 3 2 1 4 30 33 Dionisio Gomez...... * 2-6 0-0 1-2 5 4 9 3 5 1 2 2 1 19 41 Chris Walker........ * 2-9 0-4 1-2 5 5 10 0 5 4 1 0 3 34 03 Charles Tatum....... 0-2 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 04 Jason Gilbert....... 0-3 0-3 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 3 2 0 0 10 20 Brandon Davis....... 2-4 1-3 1-1 2 0 2 1 6 1 1 0 0 14 31 Alonzo Lane......... 3-4 0-0 0-4 0 0 0 1 6 0 2 1 0 11 43 Carl Baker.......... 1-4 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 5 2 1 0 2 1 13 TEAM................ 1 2 3 Totals.............. 27-66 6-25 10-21 18 21 39 18 70 22 16 7 17 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 27-66 40.9% Game: 40.9% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 6-25 24.0% Game: 24.0% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 10-21 47.6% Game: 47.6% 6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Officials: Bruce Benedict, Bert Smith, John Heatly Technical fouls: Texas-Pan American-None. Arkansas-None. Attendance: 13667
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total Texas-Pan American............ 27 29 - 56 Arkansas...................... 30 40 - 70