Dec. 14, 2003

HUNTSVILLE, TX-Sam Houston State outscored The University of Texas-Pan American's men's basketball team, 8-0 at the outset of the second half and went on to a 92-66 victory at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum Sunday afternoon.

The Bearkats, who led, 42-40, at the half, took a quick 10-point lead as a result of their run early in the second half and were never headed. SHSU continued to steadily build their lead. They built a 58-45 advantage with 15:48 remaining, increased it to 18 points, 69-51, with 11:02 to play, and outscored the Broncs, 50-26 in the second half.

The Bearkats used a 14-0 run to take a 25-12 lead midway through the first half before Texas-Pan American came back. Junior forward Chris Fagan (Bronx, NY/Storm King HS/Trinidad State) keyed a 14-2 run that brought the Broncs within three points, 29-26, with 6:58 to play. Fagan ignited the run by hitting two free throws, then converting a three-point play. After junior forward Matt Berry (Tulsa, OK/Booker T. Washington HS/Indiana State) and junior center Alvaidas Gedminas (Plunge, Lithuania/Laivite HS/Kirtland CC) added free throws, Fagan capped the run with a layup and two free throws.

SHSU built their lead back up to 38-33, but UTPA came back again. Two free throws by senior forward Andrius Sakalys (Vilnius, Lithuania/M. Dauksos HS/Eastern Oklahoma State) and a three-pointer and subsequent layup by junior guard Sergio Sanchez (San Antonio, TX/South San Antonio HS/Temple College) put the Broncs ahead, 40-38. However, the Bearkats scored the final four points of the half to take a 42-40 halftime lead.

"We were right there at the half, and, in the second half, they had a couple of runs," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "We couldn't get it inside, we kept settling for shots, and we didn't shoot well. They came out and trapped us at the beginning of the second half, and they got some easy shots, and they got a lead on us again. We'll have to regroup and come back against North Texas, and it won't be an easy game."

Fagan led the Broncs with 14 points, six rebounds and six assists. Berry added 11 points and six rebounds, Sanchez had nine points and six assists, and Sakalys added eight points.

Othello Alford led Sam Houston State with 21 points, Joe Thompson added 19, and Jason Stephenson had 17. Kelvin Williams grabbed 15 rebounds as the Bearkats outrebounded Texas-Pan American, 49-38. UTPA made just 30 per cent of their shots from the field, only 24 per cent in the second half.

The Broncs dropped to 3-5 with the defeat, while Sam Houston State improved to 3-3. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they host North Texas Wednesday evening.