Jan. 29, 2010
Final Stats
The University of Texas-Pan American men's basketball program suffered a 78-74 heartbreak to the North Dakota Fighting Sioux this Thursday (Jan. 28) evening at the UTPA Fieldhouse.
"There is an element of disappointment in tonight's loss, especially when you had so many opportunities to score," said head men's basketball coach Ryan Marks.
"We held a good fight and great composure with the momentum of the game going up and down so many different times during the game. But unfortunately, the clock ran out with us on the downside."
What turned out to be a quick lead for the Broncs, turned into a seven tie and nine lead change first half. The Broncs led by two heading into the locker rooms after Luis Valera was fouled on the shot and drained his free throw with 2:11 left in the first.
The Broncs were able to hold onto their lead for a majority of the second half, despite the Sioux tying the score on four occasions. Matt Mierzycki scored 10 of his 13 points in the second and finished the game with 4-of-10 shooting from the field along with 5-of-7 from the line and eight rebounds.
In the final seconds of play of the second half, the Broncs led by one after North Dakota scored two on a layup by Patrick Mitchell. The Broncs turned over the ball on the next possession and the Sioux followed that up with another two points by Travis Mertens to put the Sioux up by one with 27 seconds left on the clock.
North Dakota's Mitchell then fouled Matt Mierzycki with nine seconds left on the clock, in which Mierzycki made both free throws to lead by one. The Sioux were unable to fire off a shot in their next possession, but a foul by Rico Seagears drew Travis Mertens to the line and tied the score at 58 as Mertens made 1-of-2 of his free throws taking the contest into overtime.
The Broncs began overtime on a 5-0 run, but remained scoreless after the three minute mark, which only gave UTPA a one-point advantage. The Broncs were able to extend their lead to three, but with 27 seconds left on the clock, the Sioux trailed by two after Julius Hearn made his second free throw to lead 68-66.
As play continued, the Sioux took possession and attempted a three-point shot for the lead and were unsuccessful. Travis Mertens then rebounded the ball and put back the ball for two and tied the game at 68 and took the contest into a second overtime.
In the final overtime of the evening, UTPA never held a lead, but came as close as two with 20 seconds left in double overtime.
Luis Valera scored a team-high 19 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting from the field, to go along with a perfect 5-of-5 from the line and five boards.
Jared Maree added 13 points for the Broncs on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, including 1-of-1 from three-point range and a flawless 2-of-2 from the line. Aaron Urbanus scored10 for UTPA and collected four assists.
North Dakota's Travis Bledsoe scored a game-high 24 points on 5-of-14 shooting, including 2-of-5 from three-point range and 12-of-14 from the line.
The loss drops the Broncs to 3-19 for the season and 2-1 in Great West Conference play and improves the Sioux to 4-15 for the season and 2-2 in GWC play.
The Broncs next host the South Dakota Coyotes on Saturday, Jan. 30 with a 4:30 p.m. tip-off time.
UTPA Sports Information
