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For Immediate Release: Monday, February 24, 2003 BRONCS FALL TO GENTS, 78-76 EDINBURG, TX-Centenary built a 14-point second-half lead, then withstood a furious comeback by The University of Texas-Pan American men's basketball team and defeated the Broncs, 78-76, at the UTPA Fieldhouse Monday night. The Gents, who trailed for most of the first half, led for most of the second, building a 63-49 lead with 7:07 remaining before Texas-Pan American began their comeback. Sophomore guard Eric Montalvo (La Joya, TX/La Joya HS) drilled a three-pointer with 6:05 remaining to ignite the run. After a basket by CC's Shawn Davis, junior forward Delvis Diaz (San Antonio, TX/Jay HS/South Plains College) hit a jumper, and junior forward Allen Holcomb (Chicago, IL/Steinmetz HS/Allen County CC) made a layup and a jump shot to bring the Broncs within seven points at 67-60 with 3:55 remaining. Holcomb and Centenary's Andrew Wisniewski each made a pair of free throws, then senior guard Kevin Mitchell of the Broncs (Copperas Cove, TX/Copperas Cove HS/McLennan CC) drew a foul and made three free throws to cut the Gents' advantage to six points, 69-63, with 2:50 to play. The Broncs got a layup by Holcomb to climb within four with 1:24 remaining. Michael Gale's layup and a free throw by Wisniewski after UTPA senior forward Tomas Sitnikovas (Panevezys, Lithuania/Panevezys HS #5/Mid-Plains CC) was charged with a flagrant foul with 48 seconds left. Three-pointers by Mitchell and Montalvo sandwiched around a free throw by Wisniewski made it 77-75 with 20 seconds left. Holcomb drew a foul and went to the line with eight seconds left. He made the first free throw, but missed the second. Rickey Evans converted one of two free throws for Centenary with 1.6 seconds left and the Broncs got the rebound, but a rushed attempt failed as the final buzzer sounded. UT Pan American built an early eleven-point lead, 21-10, with 8:35 remaining in the first half as Wisniewski picked up three fouls and sat out the last 16 minutes of the first half. The Gents fought back, taking a 30-27 lead before Sitnikovas made a free throw and Montalvo added a layup to tie the score at 30 at halftime. "Eric hit some big shots at the end, Delvis got a rebound, and we stayed in it right to the end, but it was a bang-bang play, and we came pretty close," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "We got behind, but we did a good job getting them to turn the ball over at the end, and we came back." Mitchell made nine of 14 shots from the field and led all scorers with 26 points. Montalvo added 20 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Holcomb had 17 points and seven rebounds. Davis led Centenary with a career-high 22 points, Wisniewski added 19, all coming in the second half. Rickey Evans contributed 12 points, and Michael Gale added 10. Centenary made 27 of 45 shots from the field for 60 per cent, while the Broncs were 27 of 55 for 49.1 per cent. The Broncs fell to 10-19 with the defeat, while the Gents improved to 14-14 with the victory. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they travel to Morris Brown to conclude their season Saturday evening. MBB-51-03022403 |