Broncs getting hot at right time

 A missed three-point attempt by Kieondre Arkwright with 12 seconds left did it. It sealed a 30-point loss to TCU Jan. 11 and added insult to injury as UTPA continued on a three-game losing-streak.

In the process the Broncs lost seven of eight games during a stretch that lasted from the middle of December to the middle of January. After its third game in five nights, the men’s team needed to stay on an even keel, especially with the Great West Conference portion of the schedule about to kick off. But of course, that wasn’t easy.
Eight days after the devastating loss to the Horned Frogs, the Broncs returned to the hardwood. They were still on the road, but this time it was to open conference on Jan. 19 to play against Chicago State rather than to play a future Big 12 opponent. Even though the struggles of poor shooting, costly turnovers and undisciplined defense could have been easily pointed out on paper, the most important factor was that the team was unfazed despite the early season failures. That ultimately helped the Broncs, according to coach Ryan Marks.
“I think our morale has been pretty good throughout, but of course we’ve had patches when we have played better basketball than others,” the third-year Bronc coach said. “There’s a lot of parity in the Great West, and our guys are well aware of that. We’ve talked all year about building towards the conference season, which is most important, and I think we’re playing with great confidence and good energy.”
The difference between the team that took the court against TCU a month ago and the one that suited up against Chicago State Jan. 19 was night and day. It was as if the team had been reborn during those eight days off. Energy was back again and UTPA looked, once again, like that team with high expectations starting the season.
The Broncs went on to open up conference play with a 72-65 road victory over the Cougars  that jumpstarted them to win four of six after the embarrassing loss in North Texas.

improving
Statistically the Broncs are also playing at a level that hasn’t been seen during Marks’ three years with the team. For one, in conference play Marks’ squad is averaging a win. They are scoring 69.8 points per game while holding their opponents to 65.8 points per contest. Last year the Bronc margin per game was minus-6 during GWC, as the defense allowed nearly 74 points per game. The Broncs have also increased their field goal percentage from 41 to 45 percent during the past six games of conference play.
Perhaps Jesus Delgado should get some credit. Since Marks inserted the 6-4 junior forward from El Paso into the starting lineup against NJIT, he has averaged 10 points per game. Pre-GWC he was only scoring 4.8 per contest.
Or maybe it is having a distinctly more healthy Aaron Urbanus, who is averaging 11 more minutes per game during GWC play in comparison to the regular season. Urbanus was slowed by offseason knee surgery that hampered the start of his season. Last year, as a sophomore, he averaged a team-high 12.5 points per game.
In any case, the Bronc season will ultimately come down to what they do on the road. They will close the season with three games away from UTPA after their final two home games against NJIT and Chicago State. UTPA will end the regular season against Utah Valley, North Dakota and Houston Baptist, all on the road. Those three teams have a combined 28-7 home record, including 6-1 against GWC opponents so far.
“It’s always tougher on the road, and that’s throughout college basketball,” Marks said. “But we’ve been to some pretty hostile environments, so I don’t think we’ll be in awe in any way. Once we get back on the road, we have to be playing our best basketball of the year.”
On the other hand, Marks’ club is 1-12 on the road for the season with the only win coming against Chicago State to open GWC play on Jan. 19. The Broncs are set to begin the second part of the 10-game league slate tonight against NJIT in the Field House at 7 p.m. and will close the home portion of the season Saturday against Chicago State.