The Shorthorn - Mavericks defeat Demons 81-80, Marquez Haynes sets university record

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Mavericks defeat Demons 81-80, Marquez Haynes sets university record

Written by Clint Utley, The Shorthorn sports editor

Monday, 08 February 2010 10:01 PM

Senior gaurd Marquez Haynes elevates for the game winning shot during the basketball game Saturday night at Texas Hall. Haynes finished with 32 points and set the UTA record for most thirty-point games in one season. (Courtesy Photo: UTA Sports Information)

When senior guard Marquez Haynes had the ball in his hands for the final shot of the game, senior forward Tommy Moffitt had no doubt in his mind that Haynes would sink it.

“I knew it was butter,” Moffitt said. “You literally can’t stop him. If he looks at the basket and there’s no hand in his face, it’s going in.”

Haynes hit the game-winning shot with 4.3 seconds left to give the Mavericks an 81-80 victory over Northwestern State University on Saturday in Texas Hall.

With 32 points, Haynes not only helped the Mavs win, but he set a UT Arlington record.

He now has seven 30-point games in a single season, one more than Sam Norton in the 1983-1984 season.

Haynes surpassed 1,000 career points for the Mavs and now possesses the university record for most points in a two-year career.

Haynes said he was comfortable with taking the last shot.

“I like that spot on the floor, close to the right elbow,” he said. “Even with a hand in my face, it felt good.”

The Mavericks (12-9, 4-4 SLC) didn’t seem to have much hope for a win late in the second half. Northwestern State guard Damon Jones scored to give the Demons a 77-69 lead with 2:59 remaining.

Senior guard Brandon Long scored six points on the Mavs’ next two possessions to cut the deficit to 77-75 with 1:20 left in the game.

Haynes said he felt the team was a step slow the whole night until Long sparked the rally.

“Luckily for us there was a Brandon Long sighting in the building,” he said. “He hit the three, then the and-1. Then we were back in the game after that. Big plays by a big player.”

The Demons built the lead back to three points, 80-77, but Haynes scored with 18 seconds remaining to cut it to one point. N

orthwestern State missed two free throws after that to set Haynes up for the game winner on the Mavs’ next possession.

Men’s head coach Scott Cross said Haynes and Long were vital pieces in the victory.

“No question, they both came up huge for us,” he said. “Both those guys just stepped up and made huge plays. On top of that, our guys played really good defense down the stretch.”

Aside from the late-game heroics, the rest of the game lacked rhythm. The two teams totaled 57 fouls and 77 free-throw attempts.

The Mavericks controlled one statistic that Cross has emphasized all season, rebounding. UTA out-rebounded the Demons 46-38.

“It’s nice to see some of those games that went the other direction are starting to go our way,” Cross said.

The Mavericks, winners of four straight games, will play two road games this week after playing four of their last five games at Texas Hall.

Moffitt said the team can’t get complacent after the recent success.

“Stay focused,” he said. “When we’re on the road, we’re all we got.”
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Last Updated ( Monday, 08 February 2010 10:02 PM )

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