Box Score

CHICAGO, Illinois – Despite a 22-0 run that gave the third-seeded University of Texas-Pan American Broncs men's basketball team a 16-point lead, the second-seeded University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux used a 25-5 run to come back to beat the Broncs 63-59 in the Great West Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday at Jones Convocation Center, on the campus of Chicago State University.
 
“Obviously it wasn't the outcome we had hoped for, but it was a privilege to be a part of a good college basketball game,” Broncs head coach Ryan Marks said. “When the season starts, we're all hoping to be playing meaningful games in March. It's a credit to our guys for earning the third seed, playing in the semifinals and playing a very good game. That's something we have to feel very good and very proud about for our guys.”
 
The Broncs (11-21) led early, but the Fighting Sioux (16-14) went on an 8-0 run to take a 23-17 lead on a Mitch Wilmer lay-up with 8:18 remaining in the first half. Those were the last points of the half for the Fighting Sioux. The Broncs scored 20-straight points, including two three-pointers by Brandon Provost and three baskets by Jared Maree to take a 37-23 lead into the locker room.
 
Aaron Urbanus hit a jumper 51 seconds into the second half to cap the run and give the Broncs their largest lead of the game at 39-23.
 
“I thought our defensive communication was very, very good,” Marks said. “We got a couple of good stops that seemed to kind of snowball to where we built some good momentum and continued to play with that same intensity defensively. I think at that point, North Dakota got a little bit out of sync.”
 
Brandon Brekke got the Fighting Sioux back on the board with a lay-up at the 18:03 mark, sparking a 25-5 run to take a 50-44 lead on a jumper by Lenny Antwi with 5:49 remaining.
 
The Broncs responded with a three-pointer by Provost, a turnaround jumper by Urbanus and a three-pointer by Nick Weiermiller that made it 52-50 Broncs.
 
Patrick Mitchell hit a pair of free throws to tie the game, but Weiermiller hit a lay-up to give the Broncs the lead back. Troy Huff tied the game with a lay-up of his own, but Provost nailed a three to make it 57-54 Broncs with 2:37 to go.
 
Jamal Webb responded with back-to-back baskets to give the Fighting Sioux the lead for good.
 
“I think you have to give North Dakota a tremendous amount of credit,” said Marks. “They have a good understanding of how to win close games. They have a good barometer of how to deal with adversity over the course of a game. They showed both of those things in stellar fashion today.”
 
The Broncs were led in scoring by Provost, who scored 17 points while hitting five three-pointers. Jesus Delgado reached double-figures as well with 13 points.
 
Webb led all scorers with 19 points. Huff and Aaron Anderson also reached double-figures, with 17 and 12 points respectively.
 
The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics competes at the NCAA Division I classification. UTPA, formerly known as Pan American College and Pan American University, is a part of the University of Texas System of Schools. The Broncs compete in 14 varsity sports; men's and women's basketball, golf, tennis, track and field, and cross country, along with women's volleyball and men's baseball. In 1963, then known as Pan American College, the Broncs men's basketball program won the NAIA National Championship with a 73-62 victory over Western Carolina. In 2008 UTPA joined the new all-sports division of the Great West Conference.