Tue May 6 13:23:50 2008

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UT-Arlington extends Cross through 2011-2012

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Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Head men's basketball coach Scott Cross has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the University of Texas at Arlington through the 2011-2012 season.

The 33-year-old Cross led the Mavericks to a 21-11 mark last season, a school- record for wins, as UT Arlington won the Southland Tournament and earned the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

"We appreciate the efforts and accomplishments of Coach Cross and his staff - not just in the unprecedented success we had last season, but the overall strides our program has taken academically and athletically under his leadership," said UT Arlington director of athletics Pete Carlon. "We're very happy, and I'm sure our fans are equally excited, that we could put together a deal that will keep him around until 2012."

The Mavericks, a No. 16 seed, were eliminated by eventual national runner-up Memphis in a first-round blowout. Cross, a former UT Arlington player who spent eight years as an assistant coach before taking over in 2006, led the Mavericks to a 13-17 mark in his first year as head coach.

"I'm extremely excited about the commitment the university is making to the program, not just with a contract extension for me, but for all the support we're getting from Mr. Carlon and President (James) Spaniolo as we continue to build this program," said Cross. "I have been around UTA men's basketball for more than a decade, and there is no better time than right now to be a Maverick."