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For Immediate Release: Thursday, January 30, 2003 BRONCS HOST IPFW SATURDAY NIGHT EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American men's basketball team doesn't have an official homecoming celebration this season, but, if they did, this weekend would be it. The Broncs will host fellow independent Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne Saturday evening in a game that marks the beginning of a stretch in which they will play six of their final eight games at home. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the UTPA Fieldhouse. The Broncs have played 17 of their first 22 games away from Edinburg, and UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman is pleased to have his team playing at home again. "It's been good for us to get home," said Hoffman. "We had a chance to take a couple of days off, spend some extra time with class work, and practice. Any time you're home, it helps to be in familiar surroundings. We can't think that just because we're home, we'll be successful. We'll have to go out and work hard Saturday night." The Broncs are 5-17, but have won four of five games at home, losing only an 85-79 decision to Rice, which is tied for third place in the Western Athletic Conference. The Mastodons bring a 4-17 record into Saturday night's game, and have lost 12 of their past 14 games. However, IPFW won at Chicago State, 67-63, January 21st, and the Broncs lost to the Cougars, 57-54 on a half-court shot at the buzzer at the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic at the University of Hawaii December 29th. "IPFW has played a lot of people close, they've shot really well in some games, and not so well in others," said Hoffman. It's basically a matchup of two teams having similar seasons." The matchup is UTPA's third game of the season against an independent team, and the Broncs are looking for their first win. "They run a lot of motion, and look to shoot a lot of threes," said Hoffman. "They have post guys who can score, and they try to run a lot of screens and keep the ball moving. They'll push the ball up the court, but they're more of an opportunity fast breaking team than a team that will fast break every time. We have to execute our stiff, continue to work hard on defense, and do the things we know how to do that will make us successful." Saturday night will be Fellowship of Christian Athletes Night. Master Bob Davis and his Karate Kids will provide a special halftime show. UTPA will return to action when they host the Southwest Assemblies of God Tuesday evening.
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