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For
Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 20, 2003 BRONCS RETURN HOME TO HOST SOUTHERN WEDNESDAY EDINBURG, TX-After playing 16 of their first 20 games of the season away from home, The University of Texas-Pan American men's basketball team will begin the final part of their season Wednesday night when they host Southern University of Baton Rouge, LA. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the UTPA Fieldhouse. The game will mark the beginning of a stretch in which Texas-Pan American will play seven of their final 10 games of the season at home. The Broncs have played 16 of their first 20 games away from the UTPA Fieldhouse, and UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman is pleased to have his team playing at home again. "We're excited about being at home, and having the opportunity to finish strong," said Hoffman. "It would be great to see us have a big crowd, to give us a little added boost come Wednesday night. I understand that we haven't won as many as we or our fans would have liked, but it will be great to have their enthusiasm behind us once again." The Broncs are 4-16 going into Wednesday night's game, and have lost nine games in succession since defeating Southern, 65-59 on the road December 19th. SU is 3-9, is coming off a 72-59 loss to Mississippi Valley State Monday night, and has won just one of their past seven games, a 52-44 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff January 18th. Southern has lost all three of its games away from Baton Rouge this season. "We have continued to find ways to score, and, even though we haven't played as well as we'd have liked, we've continued to make strides," said Hoffman. "We're excited about playing Southern, although we have to continue to take things one game at a time, and one possession at a time." The game between the two teams went down to the wire December 19th, and could do so again. "They're big, they're very athletic, and they have some good players," said Hoffman. "We have to do a very good job of containing them, and not letting them drive and get to the basket." There will be a special halftime show, featuring an acrobatic
slam dunking presentation by the High Impact Squad. |