McNeese State Relentless in Knocking Off Top Seed UT Arlington
ESPN3 REPLAY
By Brandon C. Williams
Southland.org
KATY, Texas -- Relentless. No other word best describes McNeese
State's 92-72 win over top-seed UT Arlington in Thursday night's
semifinal.
Less than 24 hours after needing overtime to simply outlast
defending tournament champion UTSA, the Cowboys exploded out of the gate with a
7-0 lead that only swelled as coach Dave Simmons' squad steamrolled its way
into Saturday's 2:05 p.m. championship game against Lamar.
"They just came to play tonight," said Simmons, whose team (17-14)
reached the final game for the second consecutive year. "We knew we were
capable of playing like that, and I think that's the first time we put it all
together, and we put it all together against a really good team."
UTA (24-8) had no solution of the seemingly endless onslaught of
gold and blue jerseys streaking down the court. For only the second time this
season, the Mavericks allowed an opponent to score more than 90 points as the
Cowboys shot a blistering 62 percent from the field in the second half and
denied coach Scott Cross' team any respite.
"We ran into a juggernaut," Cross said. "They were clicking on all
cylinders. We tried to throw everything we had at them, and it seemed like they
had an answer for everything."
Two weeks ago after leading by as much as 29 in a victory over the
Cowboys, the Mavericks never led, getting as close as 18-16 with 10:50 left in
the first half before McNeese ripped off a 10-2 to extend its margin to 28-18.
UTA would close to within seven near the end of the half, a mark that would
prove to their high-water point of the evening.
Up 44-32 at intermission, the Cowboys opened the second half in
much the same torrid fashion as the first, as Patrick Richard, the conference player
of the year, rebounded from a sluggish shooting effort on Wednesday to pound
UTA for 20 points, including four from beyond the arc. While Mavericks' sniper
LaMarcus Reed (23 points) tried his best to keep the regular season champs
within shouting distance, the constant shooting barrage from all directions
eventually proved too much for UTA.
"We just stayed on them the whole game," said McNeese guard
Jeremie Mitchell, who scored 17 points.
The Cowboys shot 54.2 percent from the field, which just missed
being a season-high for highest field goal percentage allowed by UTA, which
came into the game limiting opponents to just 65 points per contest.
UTA's season will be extended by at least one more game, as the
Mavericks will play in the National Invitation Tournament. It marks the first
time since 1981 that the program has played in the NIT. Reed felt that as bad
as Thursday's loss was, the team will be ready for whoever they face early next
week.
"We have to remember this feeling," he said. "It doesn't feel very
good."
As for McNeese, they will take on Lamar for the third time this
season. The schools split the first two games, with the Cowboys winning 57-54
on January 11 and the Cardinals taking a 78-68 decision last Saturday.
The win also marks the second straight year both the McNeese men's
and women's programs will play for the conference title, with the women playing
Stephen F. Austin on Friday night.
"No matter what happens, both teams will represent the league
well," said Simmons.
Postgame Quotes
McNeese State head coach Dave Simmons
Opening statement...
"First of all, I appreciate the effort
these gave tonight. They are champions and warriors and they really came to
play tonight. We are capable of playing like that, and that is probably the
first time we put it all together. And we put it together against a really good
basketball team. They have been the class of our league throughout the year. I
told our guys this: 'Great moments are presented with opportunity.' This was
our opportunity tonight. If they wanted to continue to play basketball, then we
would have to get it done tonight. We beat a really good basketball team. All
these guys made a great contribution. I am thankful to be coaching these guys.
I am benefiting from being their coach."
On tonight's game ...
"Last time we played these guys, we
were down 29 at the half. We knew that we couldn't put ourselves in that
situation. We challenged them from the 3-point line. We hit some big shots
early, and we handled their zone better than we handled the zone last night. We
just played a tremendous game, and hopefully we can continue it through
Saturday."
On the championship game against Lamar ...
"We are just 50 miles down the road
from each other and our recruiting paths cross with one another. It is going to
make for a lot of excitement. Lamar had a lot of fans here tonight, and I just
hope we can match that intensity with fans on Saturday. It brings a big
difference into the game when your crowd is into it. I know Lamar will show up ready
to play, and I know our players with show up ready to play. It is going to be a
great basketball game. The Southland Conference has always been a tough league,
and we see good basketball."
McNeese State senior forward Patrick Richard
On McNeese State's team...
"Coming into the year, people may have
looked at us different because we lost so much from last year's team. But I
knew we had so much talent coming back. Now we are playing some real good
basketball at the end of the year. We
have to play our best basketball right now. We are still hungry."
McNeese State junior guard Dontae Cannon
On the team's potential...
"It gives us a lot of confidence. Usually
we get off to a slow start in the first half, but tonight we played really well
for 40 minutes. We can be a really scary team if everyone comes out and plays
like they did tonight."
UT Arlington head coach Scott Cross
Opening statement...
"It was definitely not the way we
wanted to end the Southland season this year. You have to give credit to
McNeese State. We ran into a juggernaut tonight. They were clicking on all
cylinders. We tried to throw everything we had at them, but it seemed like they
had an answer for everything. Our guys battled as much as they good. I am proud
of them for what they accomplished this year. I have a bunch unbelievable group
of guys that have accomplished so much. It is just one of those games."
UT Arlington senior guard Bradley Gay
On his effort on the court...
"I just tried to give my heart to my
team. They deserved it. So I just feel like every game, I should at least play
my hardest."