Dec. 29, 2006
Orlando, Fla. (AP) - Brian Burrell had a game-high 23 points to lead Texas-Pan American to a 70-57 victory over James Madison in first round action of the UCF Holiday Classic Friday at the UCF Arena.
UTPA (8-5) led by as many as 10 points in the opening half, but saw their lead cut to two at intermission, 35-33, after James Madison (2-8) closed the half on a 7-0 run. The Dukes tied the game at 37-37 early in the second half, but the Broncs responded with an 8-0 run and would never relinquish the lead.
Burrell led a 47.1 percent (24-for-51) shooting effort by the Broncs as the junior made 9-of-17 attempts from the floor, including a trio of three pointers. Dexter Shankle added 13 points for UTPA, while Paul Stoll and Colin Lien also reached double figures with 10 points a piece.
Lien also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to post the fourth double-double of his career.
Sophomore Juwann James, who has scored in double figures in all 10 of the Dukes' games, led James Madison with 20 points. Freshman Pierre Curtis chipped in with 12 points. The Dukes shot 25 percent from the floor in the second half, after knocking down 48.3 percent of their shots in the first 20 minutes.
UTPA will play the winner of UCF-New Jersey Tech in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, while James Madison will play the loser at 5 p.m. in the consolation game.