TEXARKANA, TX---USW opened up their 2021 schedule with a matchup against not only a nationally ranked opponent, but one who eliminated them from the RRAC tournament last season. The Mustangs were unable to get into rhythm and fell to #21 Texas A&M-Texarkana 105-57. 

"I thought we didn't play with any type of energy, desire or mental preparation. I have to do a better job of getting the guys ready to play and more locked in. I wish we would've came out a little more juiced with it being our first game of the season." said Hitchcock of the loss Friday night. 

The Mustangs did not have a single scorer with double-digit points, but did have 14 players score overall. Thurbil Bile, JC Roundtree and Nathaniel White Jr. all had 7 points tonight. Derrick Hall led the team in assists with 6 of the total 12 assists on the night. 

"I don't think TAMUT did anything on defense that gave us trouble, they just pressed us and made us hurry up. We got out of character and didn't value the basketball. TAMUT is very good defensively. They run a similar defense to us, the difference was they did a much better job executing tonight" said Head Coach Cory Hitchcock on what TAMUT did tonight to stifle the Mustang offense. 

"We have to play better defense tomorrow" said Hitchcock. "I have to do a better job of keeping guys off the 3-point line tomorrow and ensure that they are prepared and ready to go at tip-off. My message tonight to the guys was that this is not who we are as a program. We need to do a better job of showing up and showing up with our ability. Have to be gritty on defense. We didn't take a single charge tonight, didn't dive for loose balls or box out which is the little things that help win games. Get back to our identity and do what we do best"

The Mustangs are back in action tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM MST against #21 Texas A&M-Texarkana. The game will be live streamed through TAMUT athletic website. Links for the game will be posted on social media and the schedule portion of uswathletics.com