EDINBURG – Brian Merriweather scored 26 points leading the University of Texas-Pan American to a 74-68 come-from-behind win over Northern Iowa in men’s basketball action Wednesday night at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

Merriweather, who leads the nation in three-point field goals per game, made four more against the Panthers and now is averaging 4.7 per game.  Kyle Sanders and Watara Banks also scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.  Robbie Sieverding led the way for the Panthers with 21 points.

UTPA’s Kwasinda Curtis had one of his best games as a Bronc, scoring eight points, dishing out six assists and making four steals.  He also made three free throws in the final 1:38 and hit a key three-point basket late to seal the win for the Broncs.

The Panthers came out of the locker and went on a 6-0 run to take a 46-39 lead, their largest of the game.  But UTPA regrouped with an 8-1 run of its own to tie the game at 51-51.  The game swung back-and-forth from there with the lead changing hands three times over the next seven minutes.  But John Braxton’s layup with 5:26 left gave the Broncs a 63-61 lead.  Curtis’ heroics sealed the game from there.

With the win the Broncs improved to 4-5 on the season, while Northern Iowa dropped to 7-3.  The Broncs will return to action on Thursday night when they host the St. Edward’s Hilltoppers in the UTPA Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa Panthers at UT-Pan American Broncs
UTPA Fieldhouse
December 29, 1999

Northern Iowa (7-3)

No. Name                   FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A   TO BLK S  MIN
32  Joe Breakenridge, f    4   6    0   0     2   6    3  4  7    4   10  1   2  0   2  38
44  Cory Jenkins, f        1   3    0   0     6   9    1  2  3    5   8   0   3  0   1  21
34  David Bivins, c        4   6    0   0     2   2    1  1  2    2   10  1   1  0   1  14
04  Kelvin Hill, g         3   10   0   2     2   2    1  3  4    2   8   2   3  0   2  27
20  Robbie Sieverding, g   5   11   2   5     9   10   1  5  6    1   21  4   5  0   1  40
05  Martin Coon            1   5    1   4     0   0    0  0  0    0   3   0   0  0   1  7
33  Aaron Middendorf       1   5    0   1     1   3    2  3  5    1   3   1   2  0   2  25
42  Derek Paban            2   4    1   3     0   0    1  0  1    1   5   0   1  0   1  5
50  Tyler Peterson         0   1    0   0     0   0    1  3  4    3   0   0   3  0   0  23
    Team                                               2  0  2                             
    Totals                 21  51   4   15    22  32   13 21 34   19  68  9   20 0   11 200

Total FG% 1st Half: 14-30  .467   2nd Half: 7-21    .333   Game: .412     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-7    .429   2nd Half: 1-8     .125   Game: .267     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  8-16   .563   2nd Half: 13-16   .813   Game: .688     3

UT-Pan American Broncs (4-5)

No. Name                   FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A   TO BLK S  MIN
11  John Braxton, f        2   8    1   4     1   1    0  2  2    2   6   3   1  0   1  29
21  Kyle Sanders, f        5   9    0   0     1   2    1  6  7    2   11  1   5  0   3  37
12  Gary Booker, c         0   1    0   0     0   0    0  3  3    2   0   0   1  1   0  10
05  Kwasinda Curtis, g     2   4    1   2     3   4    0  0  0    2   8   6   2  0   4  27
23  Brian Merriweather, g  10  17   4   8     2   2    0  5  5    2   26  2   1  1   2  36
03  Gabe Rhoads            3   3    0   0     1   2    0  1  1    2   7   0   1  0   0  13
10  Carlos Haywood         1   1    0   0     0   0    0  2  2    2   2   0   3  0   0  9
15  Watara Banks           3   5    2   2     2   4    1  1  2    4   10  4   4  0   0  20
33  Matt Palmquist         1   1    0   0     2   3    0  2  2    5   4   2   1  1   2  19
    Team                                               2  2  4                             
    Totals                 27  49   8   16    12  18   4  24 28   23  74  18  19 3   12 200

Total FG% 1st Half: 14-23  .609   2nd Half: 13-26   .500   Game: .551     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-8    .500   2nd Half: 4-8     .500   Game: .500     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  7-10   .700   2nd Half: 5-8     .625   Game: .667     3

Officials: Jimmy Flores, Brent Sherrod, Cody Robinson

Technical Fouls: None
Attendance: 3,348

Score by Periods        1st   2nd   Final
Northern Iowa           40    28    68
UTPA                    39    35    74