Nov. 18, 2006
Box Score
Four Broncs scored in double digits as they improved to 4-0 on the season defeating the Texas State Bobcats by a score of 77-64 in front of their biggest crowd of the season at the UTPA Fieldhouse on Saturday (Nov. 18).
The Broncs got off to a slow start as they let their opponents take a six point lead at the 15:44 mark, making the score 12-6 on a lay-up by Chris Aguwamaro.
Led by sharp-shooter Brian Burrell (Nacogdoches, TX/Paris J.C.), the Broncs were able to fight their way back into it as Burrell hit a jumper at the 13:24 mark to cut the lead to two, making it 12-10.
Sparked by a Burrell trey, the Broncs found their groove and took the lead on a 9-5 run, making the score 22-20 with just over nine minutes to play in the half.
Neither team backed down from the fight as there were seven lead changes in the first half before UTPA made a final surge in the final four minutes of the first half.
The opening half of the game was an indication of what was to be expected as UTPA headed to the locker room with a five point lead at 38-33.
UTPA picked up right where they left off, as they increased their lead to seven on a Colin Lien (Waterloo, IA/Southeastern J.C.) jumper in the opening seconds.
Lien would end the night with his second double-double of the season (points-rebounds) with 11 point and 10 rebounds. Lien shot 5-8 from the field and grabbed seven of his 10 boards on the defensive end, eliminating second chance points for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats weren't done yet, as they chopped the Broncs lead to only four with 10:36 remaining in the game on an Antwon Williams jumper.
Burrell refused to let them creep any closer as the Bronc newcomer nailed a three-point shot at the 9:28 mark, making it a 56-47 game.
Burrell was lights out as he finished the night with a game-high 31 points on 12-21 shooting and 6-12 from behind the arc. Burrell would also add six defensive rebounds on the night, one steal and one assist.
The Broncs shot 43 percent to the Bobcats 42 percent, but the hidden numbers would come from junior Zach Trader (La Porte, TX/La Porte H.S.) as he made it to the foul line 18 times, connecting on 14 of those opportunities. Trader would finish the evening with 16 points in 24 minutes of action.
Dexter Shankle (Katy, TX/James E. Taylor H.S.), the team's leading scorer last season, finished the game with 12 points as he went 3-8 from the field and 2-3 from behind the arc, in 29 minutes of action.
The Broncs will be back in action on Tuesday (Nov. 21) as they hit the road to face the University of Texas-Arlington with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. Loyal Bronc fans can catch the game live on 1240 AM with Alex Del Barrio.
UTPA Sports Information
