Jan. 8, 2004

DENTON, TX-For 30 minutes, The University of Texas-Pan American's basketball team and North Texas battled on virtually even terms at the Super Pit Thursday evening. Then the Mean Green turned up the defensive intensity, outscored the Broncs, 26-5 during the final 10 minutes, and went on to a 71-53 victory and a sweep of their two-game series.

Texas-Pan American got a layup from junior center Alvaidas Gedminas (Plunge, Lithuania/ Laivite HS/Kirtland CC) to extend their lead to 48-45 with 10:36 remaining. But Shawnson Johnson of the Mean Green scored on an offensive rebound, and Calvin Watson connected on a three-pointer, and UNT had the lead for good at 50-48.

The Broncs scored just once more until the waning moments. An offensive rebound basket by junior center Ryan Lange (Inwood, IA/West Lyon HS/Northeast CC) that cut North Texas' lead to 53-50 with 7:50 left was all that they could muster until junior guard Eric Montalvo (La Joya, TX/La Joya HS scored from three-point range with 24 seconds left to account for the final points of the game.

The evening had begun on a promising note, as UTPA junior guard Ray Castillo (San Antonio, TX/South San Antonio HS/Temple College) put on a show in the first half as the Broncs and the Mean Green went to the locker room deadlocked at 32 at halftime.

Castillo made six of eight field goals from three-point range for 20 first-half points, and nearly single-handedly brought Texas-Pan American back after UNT had taken an early lead.

North Texas used an early 11-0 run to seize a 13-4 advantage five minutes into the game. Castillo came off the bench and immediately hit a pair of treys as UTPA battled back, trailing 21-15 midway through the first half and 26-20 a few moments later. Lange made consecutive layups, and Castillo drilled a three-pointer to give the Broncs their first lead, 27-26, with five minutes remaining in the first half. Another three-pointer by Castillo and a pair of free throws by Lange gave Texas-Pan American a 32-28 advantage before the Mean Green scored the final four points of the first half to forge a 32-all halftime tie.

Castillo finished as UTPA's leading scorer with 22 points, but he was held to two points in the second half. Junior forward Chris Fagan (Bronx, NY/Storm King HS/Trinidad State) added 12 points for the Broncs. Shawnson Johnson led the Mean Green with 18 points and nine rebounds, Jerome Rogers added 13, and Michael DeGrate added 12.

North Texas made 47 per cent of their shots from the field and outrebounded UTPA, 53-30. The Broncs were held to 31 per cent from the field, 27 per cent in the second half.

"We didn't execute as well in the last 10 minutes as we had before that, we didn't make the plays, and it seemed as though every time we got to the basket, they blocked our shots," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "We just weren't able to finish, and they turned up their defense and locked us down. I haven't seen too many games like this in my coaching career. They're a good team, and I don't know how they've lost as many games as they have. But when you shoot 31 per cent from the field, you're going to get killed."

The Broncs fell to 5-10 with the defeat, which ended their two-game losing streak. North Texas improved to 5-7. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they visit Wright State next Wednesday evening.