UT Arlington defeats Southern Utah 77-86
Game Recap: UT Arlington Upsets Southern Utah 86-77 in Thrilling Conference Matchup
In a back-and-forth contest that saw multiple leads change hands, the visiting UT Arlington Mavericks edged out the home-standing Southern Utah Thunderbirds 86-77 on Tuesday night at America First Events Center.
The game's narrative thread was woven around a remarkable comeback by UT Arlington, which erased a four-point deficit at halftime to take control of the contest. The Mavericks' resilience paid off as they outscored Southern Utah 49-36 in the second half, ultimately securing their first conference win of the season.
Marcell McCreary led the way for UT Arlington with an outstanding 39 points on 8-for-11 three-point shooting (75.0% FG) and 7 rebounds. The senior's performance was a key differentiator in the matchup, as Southern Utah relied heavily on Isaiah Cottrell's (13 points, 5 assists) scoring and playmaking.
Southern Utah's game plan focused on containing UT Arlington's offense, which proved effective with McCreary's three-point shooting. However, the Mavericks' bench provided crucial support, outscoring the Thunderbirds' reserves 21-10 in the second half.
The largest lead of the night belonged to Southern Utah, which held a 12-point advantage early in the first half before UT Arlington stormed back. The Mavericks' comeback was fueled by McCreary's consistent scoring and Raysean Seamster's (11 points, 5 assists) playmaking.
Advanced statistics highlighted the importance of three-point shooting in the contest. UT Arlington's 58.0% clip from beyond the arc dwarfed Southern Utah's 33.0%, while the Mavericks' 62.0% effective field goal percentage compared favorably to the Thunderbirds' 47.0%.
The win marks a significant milestone for UT Arlington, as they improve their conference standing and build momentum heading into their next matchup.
In the end, it was McCreary's outstanding performance that proved decisive, as he led his team to victory in a thrilling conference matchup.
Game Stats:
Southern Utah:
* Field Goals: 27/58 (47.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 20/37 (54.1%)
* 3-Point FG: 7/21 (33.0%)
* Free Throws: 16/21 (76.0%)
... (stats for Southern Utah)
UT Arlington:
* Field Goals: 28/54 (52.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 17/35 (48.6%)
* 3-Point FG: 11/19 (58.0%)
* Free Throws: 19/25 (76.0%)
... (stats for UT Arlington)