UTA Tops Troy

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ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington senior guard Reger Dowell nailed a 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left to lift the Mavericks to a 59-56 victory over Troy before 2,247 fans Thursday night at College Park Center.

UT Arlington improved to 8-10 overall and evened its Sun Belt Conference record at 3-3. Dowell finished with 22 points on 8-18 shooting in his second game back from a leg injury.

“It was unbelievable,” UT Arlington coach Scott Cross said. “We were waiting for this. He’s some kind of offensive weapon. He flat put us on his back.”

Junior guard Jamel Outler added 10 points and senior forward Brandon Edwards grabbed 12 rebounds. The Mavericks won despite shooting 37.7 percent by holding Troy to 34.0-percent shooting.

The Trojans (7-12, 2-5) were held scoreless for nearly seven minutes to start the game, as neither team could buy a bucket for much of the first half.

Outler drilled 3-pointer from the corner for 15-8 advantage, followed by a three-point play from Dowell for a 10-point edge with 5:16 left in the half.

Troy did reel off a 10-0 run late in the half to tie the game at 24-all. The Mavericks went into the locker room up 28-26. Dowell and Outler each had six points for UTA at the break.

UT Arlington went up 34-27 on Outler’s drive early in the second half. The Trojans rallied to inch ahead 38-37 and the lead seesawed back and forth for the next several possessions.

The game was tied at 53 when Cross called timeout with 1:15 left. Dowell gave the Mavericks the lead with a 3-pointer from the right wing with 27 seconds remaining, only to watch the Troy follow up with a 3. Dowell answered with the game winner to send the fans home satisfied.

The Mavericks complete their two-game Sun Belt homestand Saturday against South Alabama. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. at College Park Center.