Dec. 29, 2004

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. - The Texas-Arlington men's basketball team could not thaw out in balmy Florida Wednesday night as they went without a field goal for more than 7:00 of the first half and watched South Florida go on a 16-0 run to put away UTA 81-51 at the Sun Dome.

South Florida (7-4) freshman guard Collin Dennis scored a career-high 21 points. Terrence Leather scored 18 and Marlyn Bryant added 14. For UTA, Steven Thomas (16), Jarrett Howell (15) and Stephen Floyd (12) scored in double figures.

UTA (5-4) shot a season-low 32.7 percent from the field (16 of 49) for t he game. The Mavs made just three field goals in the final 17:33 of the first half and watched USF turn six turnovers into nine points to break a 7-7 tie and turn it into a 26-11 lead after two Leather free throws with 7:57 to play in the half. The lead swelled to 22, 37-15, after two Chris Capko free throws with 2:39 left in the half.

"I thought the defense set the tone in the first half," said USF coach Robert McCullum. "We got some good shots with our transition offense. Transition is very important to us and our defense made it possible for us to get off to a good lead.

"I told our guys that UTA wouldn't quit in the second half. They were in a similar situation at Texas and they played hard. I thought Solomon Jones got some timely rebounds and what a night for Collin Dennis."

UTA opened the second half with a 12-1 run in the opening 4:27 to trim the lead to 42-31 after a Jarrett Howell three-pointer with 15:33 to play in the game. But the Mavs tired and a three-pointer by Marius Prekevicius stretched the lead back to 60-41 with 7:53 to play.

UTA returns to action Monday when they host New Mexico at 7 p.m.

NOTES: The 19 first-half points by UTA is a season low for points scored in a half...Thomas recorded his fourth double-double of the season and his second straight with 16 points and 11 rebounds... Thomas moved into eighth place on the free throws made list with eight and now has 253 mad in his career... UTA falls to 0-4 in games played in Florida... USF improves to 5-0 at home.