UT Arlington beats UNT Dallas 89-56 in season opener

UT Arlington Routs UNT Dallas in Season Opener

The UT Arlington Mavericks men’s basketball team opened the 2026-27 season on Monday night with an 89-56 victory over UNT Dallas at College Park Center. UTA dominated the glass by out-rebounding the Trailblazers 64-38 and racking up 56 points in the paint.

The lopsided win allowed the Mavericks to test a heavily revamped roster that features 12 new players. UTA’s 64 total rebounds tied for the eighth-highest single-game total in program history, a mark reached in 2026, 1992, 1987, and 1964.

New Roster Finds Instant Chemistry

Every night with this team it can be somebody different scoring the basketball.

Senior Noah Shelby set a college career high with 17 points, shooting 5 of 10 from beyond the arc. Junior Teodor Simic contributed 16 points and nine rebounds in just 18 minutes of action on the floor.

Double-Doubles Lead a Balanced Attack

Two Mavericks posted double-doubles in the season opener. Sophomore Niko Bundalo recorded 13 points and 12 rebounds, while junior Jerimiyah Smith tallied 11 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.

Junior Miles Goodman, the team’s lone returner, set a new career high with 10 points, capping his night with an alley-oop. Senior Mier Panoam added eight points, 10 rebounds, and five assists as five different players finished the night scoring in double figures.

Defensive Lockdown Secures First-Half Surge

The Mavericks never trailed in the contest. A decisive 16-2 run late in the first half broke the game open and gave UTA a 42-22 advantage heading into intermission. With the win, the Mavericks improved to 4-0 all-time against the Trailblazers.

UTA’s defense stifled UNT Dallas, holding the visitors to just 23 percent shooting from the field on an 18-for-77 performance.

Looking Ahead to the Outrigger Rainbow Classic

The Mavericks return to the court on Friday, Nov. 6, to face Portland in the opener of The Outrigger Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. We’re about getting better every day, Turner said regarding the upcoming trip. I thought we did some good things. You want to win every game you play. It gives you confidence going into Hawaii.