UTA defeats Texas-Wesleyan 71-49

[Guest abovetherim]

Jermaine Griffin had 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead UT Arlington to 71-49 victory over Texas Wesleyan Thursday night at Texas Hall.

Anthony Vereen (12) and Brandon Long (11) also scored in double figures for the Mavericks, now 6-0 and off to the best start in school history. Kennith (cq) Gober led Texas Wesleyan (3-3) with 19 points. Ryan Barnes added 12 points.

UT Arlington made seven of their first eight field goals in the second half to lead 52-38 with 11:58 to play after a three-point play by Griffin.

The lead swelled to 20, 62-42, after a Griffin dunk with 6:19 to play.

Defensively, UTA held Texas Wesleyan to 18 points in the second half and a season-low 29.3 percent from the field for the game (17-of-58).

UT Arlington needed a 7-0 run in the middle of the first half to shake TWU.

Tied 13-13, two Cardell Hunter free throws sparked the run. A free throw and layup by Anthony Vereen and a Griffin layup gave UTA the lead for good, 20-13 with 11:08 left in the first half. Griffin had 10 points and seven rebounds in the half.

UT Arlington hosts Western Illinois Saturday at 4 p.m. at Texas Hall.

GAME NOTES: Griffin recorded his third double-double of the season... UT Arlington held an opponent below 30 percent from the field for the first time since Nicholls State on Jan. 21, 2006.