Jan. 19, 2004

EDINBURG, TX-After digging themselves a huge hole, The University of Texas-Pan American's men's basketball team nearly dug themselves completely out of it in their game against Missouri-Kansas City at the UTPA Fieldhouse Wednesday night. Trailing 56-39 with 12:27 remaining, the Broncs used a 17-1 run during the next 6:10 and cut the Kangaroos' lead to a single point, 57-56 with 6:17 remaining. However, UMKC recovered, scored nine of the next eleven points to take a 66-58 lead, and held on for a 77-69 victory.

Two jump shots and a free throw by Michael Watson gave the Kangaroos their 56-39 lead before Texas-Pan American began their run. After junior center Ryan Lange (Inwood, IA/West Lyon HS/Northeast CC) connected on a pair of free throws, junior forward Chris Fagan (Bronx, NY/ Storm King HS/Trinidad State) hit a three-pointer, and junior guard Ray Castillo (San Antonio, TX/South San Antonio HS/Temple College) added two more to make it 56-50 with 8:42 left. Junior guard Zach Weir (Waxahachie, TX/Waxahachie HS/Hill College) connected on a layup, and Fagan hit two more, and the Broncs were down by a single point.

Mike English broke the streak with a layup and a free throw, and then Watson added a pair of free throws after a technical foul was called on the UTPA bench. A layup by Carlton Aaron made it 66-58 with 4:06 remaining. Lange responded with a layup, but the Broncs could come no closer.

UMKC led for most of the first half, but Texas-Pan American stayed close. Castillo hit two free throws, senior forward Allen Holcomb (Chicago, IL/Steinmetz HS/Allen County CC) added a jump shot, and Castillo connected from 15 feet as the Broncs trailed at the half by only two points, 32-30, despite making only 32.4 per cent of their shots from the field to Missouri-Kansas City's 52.2 per cent.

The Kangaroos opened the second half with a 16-4 run before Castillo hit a three-pointer to stem the tide and allow Texas-Pan American to start their comeback.

"We were right there, we came back and made an unbelievable run, but we just couldn't finish it," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "We were shooting 32 per cent at halftime and we shot 36 per cent for the game to their 56 per cent, and we still had a chance to win. We have to do a better job of guarding people. Michael Watson is a very good player. We lost him a couple of times, but a lot of the time, he just got open and made his shots."

Fagan led the Broncs with 19 points and nine rebounds, one shy of his third double-double of the season. Castillo added 16 points, and Lange had eight points and eight rebounds.

Watson of UMKC led all scorers with 30 points, English added 15, Brandon Lipsey had 11 and Brandon Temple contributed 10. Watson made seven of 13 shots from three-point range and the Kangaroos were 12 of 22 from beyond the arc.

Texas-Pan American fell to 5-12 with the defeat, while UMKC improved to 9-7. The Broncs will return to action when they visit Texas-Arlington Wednesday evening.