ALPINE-Tx.- El Paso native C.J. Acosta sported a 31-point home performance in Sully’s 97-89 conference win over visiting UT Tyler Thursday night at the Gallego Center. (BOX)
The Cochise transfer shared team-leading board honors with Tury Escobar and Aaron Hardwick as all three posted 8 rebounds in the win. Hardwick along with Sid Hooper tallied 20 points apiece while Escobar supplied 10.
Sul Ross grabbed the lead early with a long range shot by Hardwick. The Pats kept Sully in check allowing the Lobos no more than a 7-point spread at the 13:23 mark in the first half. Tyler grabbed the lead after a 3-point shot by the Pats’ Joe Henderson propelled the Patriots to a one-point advantage with 10:42 left in the opening period. Tyler would hold onto the lead for the majority of the remainder of the first half and went to the locker room with a slim 46-45 lead at halftime.
The Lobos answered in the second half as Sully jumped out to a 13-point, 62-49 lead with 13:32 left in the contest. Sul Ross held the lead the entire second half although the Patriots rallied to a one-point deficit with 7:13 left in regulation.
Tyler posted two players in double figures led by Brandon Weasby’s 31 points followed by a double-double showing of 21 points and 11 rebounds by Henderson.
Sul Ross outrebounded Tyler by 2 boards, 47-45. The Lobos hit 42% of their shots from the floor while connecting on 32 of 45 game total free throws, good for 71%.
The Lobos improve to 4-7 for the season and 4-4 in ASC play. The Pack returns to the Gallego Center for weekend action against UT Dallas in a 3:00 p.m. conference tip on Saturday.
Newspaper Box Score Texas-Tyler vs Sul Ross State 01/05/06 7:30 p.m. at Alpine, Texas (Pete P. Gallego Center) At Alpine, Texas (Pete P. Gallego Center) SUL ROSS STATE 97, TEXAS-TYLER 89 TEXAS-TYLER (4-6, 4-3 (ASC)) Brandon Weasby 8-18 11-12 31; Joe Henderson 5-12 10-11 21; Ryan Salters 4-6 0-0 9; Jamal Vanderbilt 3-8 2-4 8; Mirada Reed 2-4 2-4 6; Mike Smith 2-5 1-2 5; Brandon Hobbs 2-5 1-2 5; Demetris Blair 1-3 2-2 4; T.J. Fuller-Nixon 0-0 0-0 0; Patrick Branche 0-2 0-0 0; Cedric James 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-63 29-37 89. SUL ROSS STATE (4-7, 4-4 (ASC)) C.J. Acosta 9-14 11-15 31; Aaron Hardwick 9-13 1-3 20; Sidney Hooper 6-26 8-9 20; Arturo Escobar 3-9 3-4 10; Matt Santa Cruz 1-1 7-8 9; Travis Johnson 2-3 0-0 5; Art Gonzalez 0-1 2-4 2; Abraham Ely 0-2 0-0 0; Moises Morales 0-2 0-0 0; Cornell Hunt 0-0 0-2 0; Jermaine Packer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-72 32-45 97. Texas-Tyler................... 46 43 - 89 Sul Ross State................ 45 52 - 97 3-point goals-Texas-Tyler 6-19 (Brandon Weasby 4-11; Ryan Salters 1-2; Joe Henderson 1-4; Demetris Blair 0-2), Sul Ross State 5-20 (C.J. Acosta 2-5; Arturo Escobar 1-1; Travis Johnson 1-2; Aaron Hardwick 1-2; Abraham Ely 0-2; Art Gonzalez 0-1; Sidney Hooper 0-7). Fouled out--Texas-Tyler-Mirada Reed; Patrick Branche; Jamal Vanderbilt, Sul Ross State-Arturo Escobar. Rebounds-Texas-Tyler 45 (Joe Henderson 11), Sul Ross State 47 (Arturo Escobar 8; Aaron Hardwick 8; C.J. Acosta 8). Assists-Texas-Tyler 4 (Ryan Salters 2), Sul Ross State 12 (Matt Santa Cruz 4). Total fouls-Texas-Tyler 31, Sul Ross State 25. A-391