UTA Wins 11th Straight

ARLINGTON, Texas — Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Kevin Hervey recorded his 15th career double-double to lead the UTA men’s basketball team to its 11th consecutive win, an 84-69 result over Appalachian State, on Monday night at the College Park Center. 

A 6-foot-9, 230-pound junior, Hervey notched his sixth double-double of the year and the 15th of his career. He tied his season high with 21 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, while adding two assists and a steal in just 24 minutes. Since returning to the starting lineup after suffering a season-ending injury in 2015-16, Hervey has led the Mavs on their 11-game winning streak.

UTA (12-3, 2-0 Sun Belt Conference) extended its winning streak to 11 games, behind only a 16-game stretch from the 2011-12 team for the longest in the history of the program. The Mavs went 6-0 in December and finished November on a four-game winning streak. UTA opened conference play on Saturday, posting a 90-69 win over Coastal Carolina.

The Mavs trailed for the majority of the first half, taking their first lead with five minutes remaining in the period. UTA owned a 37-33 lead at the break, marking the 14th time in 15 games in 2016-17 it has owned the halftime lead.

A game after the Mavs connected on 15 3-point attempts, Appalachian State (5-8, 0-2 SBC) held UTA to 3-for-15 from behind the arc. The Mavs finished the game shooting 43 percent (29-for-67) and holding Appalachian State to 39 percent (23-for-59) from the field. UTA got to the free-throw line 32 times, making 23 shots, and won the battle of the boards 49-39 and in points in the paint 46-26.

UTA will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 7 at Texas State, with tipoff slated for 4:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on UTAMavs.com and on KEXB 620-AM with the Voice of the Mavs, Josh Sours, calling the action.