Texas defeats Arkansas 125-116

December 10, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Texas Tycoons News Release


Dallas, TX - Texas versus Arkansas has always been a classic. Regardless of the sport and regardless of the year it always seems to be a great game. In years past it was the Arkansas Rimrockers and the Texas Tycoons, in 2004 the Rimrockers were the top ranked team with Texas right behind them in the division and the Rimrockers that year went on the win the ABA championship. This year is no different, two of the best teams in the league and in fact some of the faces are the same. The 2006 Arkansas Aeros feature Todd Day (6'8''-G/F-70, college: Arkansas), the former Milwaukee Buck star guard/forward that can light up the nets on any given night to go with other star performers from elite Arkansas clubs from the past like Daryan Selvy (6'6''-F/G-79, college: Oklahoma). On Texas's side, owner Charles Key along with general manager Mike Senters and coaches Chuck Webb and Maurice Hairston remember like it was yesterday; the battles between the two clubs.

The 2006/2007 rendition features some new faces as well, for Arkansas, USBL player of the year Quannas White (6'1''-G-81, college: Oklahoma) mans the point guard spot while Curtis Haywood (6'6''-G-75, college: Oklahoma City) on the wing and Jarred Merrill (6'9''-F-81, college: Oklahoma Christian) on the front line have helped make the Arkansas Aeros the top rated team in the recently published ABA power rankings. For Texas although most of the players are new to the rivalry, the intensity of the matchup has not been lost on the them. Before the game several Arkansas players were chanting "rematch, rematch" and clapping their hands letting Texas know that they remember well their sole loss on the season, a 20 point set back to the Tycoons last month. But for all the right reasons this seems to be the slugfest that brings out the best in Texas and they found a way to get it done again against Arkansas on Sunday.

For the Arkansas Aeros Daryan Selvy had 27 points with Jarred Merrill putting up 26 to go with his 16 boards, Todd Day was doing what he does inside and out en route to 22 point performance and Curtis Haywood hit 4 threes on his way to 21.

For Texas Jerome Rogers (5'10''-G-81, college: N.Texas) had 25 points and 7 assists, Benny West (6'3''-G, agency: ProSportsCareers, college: Howard Payne) had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Donnie Beacham (6'5''-F-81, college: Texas Arlington) had another double-double with 14 points and 17 rebounds with 4 other Tycoons finishing in double figures; Brandon Lee (6'3''-G, college: Tarleton St.) 15, Damarcus Ellis (6'1''-G-80, college: Robert Morris) 12, Chris Williams (6'8''-F, college: Tarleton St.) 10 points and 14 boards, and O'neal Mims (6'10''-F-82, college: Angelo St.) finished with 10 points and several big plays coming off the bench with energy and a defensive pressence when it was needed most.

This game was a classic like many before it between Texas and Arkansas, unlike their last encounter, this was a heavyweight fight that had both teams taking their best shots all night. But for the second time in two games Texas prevails, knocking off the #1 rated team at this early stage in the ABA season, this time by nine points. Final score Texas Tycoons 125, Arkansas Aeros 116.

Texas Tycoons Head Coach Chris Terrell when asked about the win said "This team will fight with any team in this league. Anytime they feel like they're being counted out, they find a way to dig down deep for the win. They're mostly younger players, local here to the area, and we're learning how to win as a team and doing things the right way on the court and in the community. Once we stop playing down to the competition in some of our other contests we could be really good." With the win, Texas moves to 10-4 while with their two losses at the hands of the Tycoons, the Aeros fall to 12-2. You can get more information on the Texas Tycoons on the web by visiting www.txtycoons.com or by calling 214-749-0134.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.



American Basketball Association Stories from December 10, 2006


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