Feb. 8, 2007
Edinburg, TX- The Utah Valley State men's basketball team travels to Edinburg, TX., for a United Basketball League contest with Texas-Pan American on Saturday. Tip off is at 1 p.m. (MST) and the game can be heard live on 1400 KSTAR.
The Wolverines are in second place in the league with a 3-1 mark while Texas-Pan American holds a 2-2 record.
This is the fifth meeting between the two schools. Utah Valley leads the series 4-0, winning 75-64 in Orem and 55-52 at Texas-Pan American last year.
The Wolverines are 16-7 and have won 10 of their last 12 games. Utah Valley has now won 16 games or more and finished .500 or better every year it has been a Division I program.
Utah Valley is ranked 44th in the latest Mid-Major Top-25 poll voted on by Division I coaches across the country. In the latest RPI standings, released by the NCAA, the Wolverines have a 148 ranking, which is higher than any school in the Big Sky Conference.
Ryan Toolson, who was named Independent Player of the Week on Tuesday, leads the Wolverines in scoring at 14.6 points a game. David Heck is second in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. Jordan Brady leads the team in rebounding at 5.2 boards a game.
Texas Pan-American has gotten off to nice start under first year coach Tom Schuberth. UTPA is 10-0 at home and led by the play of Brian Burrell and Colin Lien. Burrell leads the Broncs in scoring at 16 points a game while shooting 44 percent from the floor. He is also second in rebounding at 4.8 a contest.
Lien is averaging 11.4 points and a team-best 6.5 rebounds a game while shooting 60 percent from the floor. As a team, Texas-Pan American is shooting 46 percent from the field and averaging 69 points a contest.
"The Broncs are undefeated at home which speaks volumes of the energy and enthusiasm coach Schuberth has brought to Pan-American," Utah Valley State coach Dick Hunsaker said. "They are a well-coached team and Burrell and Lien are two of the finest players in the United Basketball League."
Following Saturday's game the Wolverines host North Dakota State on Thursday at 7 p.m. All students get in free with ID.
