Dec. 12, 2003

ITTA BENA, MS-Mississippi Valley State used a pair of runs midway through the first half to take the lead for good and went on to an 85-67 victory over The University of Texas-Pan American's men's basketball team at the Harrison HPE Complex Friday evening.

The Delta Devils made 61 per cent of their shots from the field in the first half, including 10 of 15 shots from three-point range, to take a 52-32 halftime lead.

The Broncs and MVSU battled on even terms early. However, Mississippi Valley State used a 10-0 run to take the lead for good in the first half. Texas-Pan American led, 11-8, but Attarrius Norwood scored seven consecutive points to put MVSU ahead, 18-11.The Broncs got layups from senior forwards Allen Holcomb (Chicago, IL/Steinmetz HS/Allen County CC) and Andrius Sakalys (Vilnius, Lithuania/M. Dauksos HS/Eastern Oklahoma State) to cut the deficit to 20-16, but the Delta Devils scored 14 of the next 15 points to seize a 34-17 advantage. MVSU built their lead as high as 23 points, and was in front at the halftime break, 52-32.

Mississippi Valley State increased their lead to 26 points, 68-42 in the second half before the Broncs rallied. A three-pointer by junior guard Ray Castillo (San Antonio, TX/South San Antonio HS/Temple College) cut MVSU's advantage to 76-60, but Texas-Pan American could come no closer.

"They shot it like crazy, they really executed their offense well, and hit their shots," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "Once they started hitting, everybody started feeling better about their shots and it was hard for us to come back. In the second half, we started trapping and scrambling, and they got too many second shots. Andrius had a good game, and Allen played well also."

Sakalys led the Broncs with 15 points, Holcomb added 14, Castillo had nine, junior forward Chris Fagan (Bronx, NY/Storm King HS/Trinidad State College) added eight, and junior forward Matt Berry (Tulsa, OK/Booker T. Washington HS/Indiana State) contributed seven. Charles McGhee led the Delta Devils with 18 points, Solomon Forbes added 17, Norwood added 15 and Willie Neal had 14.

Each team took 23 shots from three-point range. The Delta Devils made 12 of theirs, the Broncs just six. Overall, MVSU made 53 per cent of their shots from the field, UTPA 43 per cent.

The Broncs dropped to 3-4 with the defeat, while Mississippi Valley State improved to 5-2. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they visit Sam Houston State Sunday afternoon.

"Sam Houston was a tournament team last year, and they shoot a lot of threes," said Hoffman. "They haven't won as many as they did last year, but Coach (Bob) Marlin is a good coach, and it'll be another tough game."