Men's Basketball
Larry Posey and the Mavericks look for first-round victory at the Merrell Center in Katy |
UT ARLINGTON VS. LAMAR SHOWDOWN SET FOR HIGH NOON
March 12, 2008
KATY - - The UT Arlington men's basketball team faces Lamar at noon Thursday to open the 2008 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.
UTA (18-11) enters the game as the No. 7 seed. Lamar (19-11), the East Division SLC champion, is seeded second. The winner of the UTA-Lamar Game faces the winner of McNeese State vs. Sam Houston.
Fans can follow the tournament's live stats at www.utamavs.com.
UT Arlington will have to contend with the Cardinals dynamic duo of Lamar Sanders and Kenny Dawkins, who each earned spots on the Southland Conference first team. The Mavericks and Cardinals - old rivals from Lamar's first stint in the Southland Conference through the 1970s and 1980s - played just once this season because East plays West only once in the SLC's divisional system.
UTA lost to the Cardinals in that game, 80-66, on Feb. 14.
Mavericks coach Scott Cross says the Cardinals athleticism poses the biggest challenge for his squad, although his team is confident going into the four-day men's tournament.
"Anything can happen when you get into an event like this, and everybody is equal beginning tomorrow," Cross said. "My coaching staff and the players have been working very hard to get us ready for a tough game against Lamar. We're excited for the opportunity to keep the season going and giving our fans something to cheer about."
UTA counters the Cardinals with a couple of All-SLC players as well. Jermaine Griffin, a second-team pick, anchors the inside along with honorable mention pick Anthony Vereen. On the perimeter, the Mavericks have sharpshooter Rog'er Guignard, who was a third-team pick when the teams were released on Tuesday.
UTA's has bowed out of the first round of the tournament in its past two appearances.
"It's a big challenge, but we'll do everything we can to change that," Cross said.