Dec. 6, 2003

SAN ANTONIO, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's men's basketball team built a six-point lead in the second overtime and held off the Roadrunners, 86-83 at the UTSA Convocation Center Saturday evening.

The Broncs scored seven of their nine points in the second overtime from the free throw line. Junior center Alvaidas Gedminas (Plunge, Lithuania/Laivite HS/Kirtland CC) made two free throws to give UTPA an 80-77 lead with 3:11 left in the second overtime period. A layup by junior forward Matt Berry (Tulsa, OK/Booker T. Washington HS/Indiana State) made it 82-77, and Texas-Pan American converted four free throws in the final 56 seconds to maintain their advantage.

UTSA cut the lead to a single point, 84-83, on a driving layup by Kurt Attaway with 34 seconds left. But junior guard Sergio Sanchez (San Antonio, TX/South San Antonio HS/Temple College) made two free throws with 19 seconds remaining, and the Roadrunners' Sammie Cole missed a three-pointer as time expired.

Regulation time ended with the teams tied at 70, and Berry made two free throws and hit a jump shot to give Texas-Pan American a 74-70 lead two minutes into overtime. The Roadrunners then scored five consecutive points, taking a 75-74 lead on Rapheal Posey's three-pointer with 1:54 remaining. Senior forward Allen Holcomb (Chicago, IL/Steinmetz HS/Allen County CC) hit a layup to bring the Broncs back to within a point, 77-76, with 53 seconds left. Sanchez' free throw with 30 seconds left tied the game, and UTSA was unable to score, so the game went to a second overtime.

Texas-Pan American got off to a good start, scoring 24 points in the final 10 minutes of the first half to take a 40-35 halftime lead. UTSA led, 16-11, when the Broncs reeled off 11 points in succession to go ahead. Sanchez' three-pointer tied the game at 16, and another trey by junior guard Ray Castillo (San Antonio, TX/South San Antonio HS/Temple College) untied it moments later and put Texas-Pan American ahead, 19-16. Sanchez connected twice more from three-point range and Castillo added another three-pointer and a jump shot as UTPA took a 40-35 lead into the halftime break.

The Roadrunners used a 12-6 run midway through the second half to take a 55-54 lead with 11 minutes remaining. Texas-Pan American came back and built a 65-59 advantage on the strength of a pair of jump shots by junior guard Eric Montalvo (La Joya, TX/La Joya HS) and Holcomb's layup with 3:45 remaining. Sanchez' layup allowed the Broncs to extend their lead to 69-64. However, UTPA missed three free throws and Anthony Fuqua's two free throws with 22 seconds remaining allowed the Roadrunners to tie the game and send it into overtime.

"It was a huge win," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "We persevered. It was a battle inside, and we made some huge plays. Alvaidas made a couple of huge free throws, Matt Berry got a big putback, and Sergio made a big steal and hit two free throws at the end. It was a very physical game, and our guys were just hungry to win, and hopefully, we got a bit of momentum going with this game tonight."

Sanchez led the Broncs with 24 points, five rebounds and five assists. Holcomb added 18 points and 11 rebounds, Berry had 11 points and eight rebounds, and Castillo had 10 points and four assists.

LeRoy Hurd led UTSA with 25 points and 12 rebounds before he fouled out in the second overtime. Posey had 18 points, and Attaway and Cole had 12 points each.

The Broncs improved to 3-3 with the victory, while the Roadrunners fell to 1-5 with the defeat. Texas-Pan American will be off for final exams before returning to action when they visit Mississippi Valley State Friday night.