March 16, 2005

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The University of Texas-Pan American men's basketball program was represented by three student-athletes who were honored with All-Independent selections on Wednesday (Mar. 17).

Sergio Sanchez (San Antonio, TX/Temple College) earned All-Independent honors for the second consecutive season as the UTPA senior was selected to the second team. The Broncs' point guard led the team in scoring average (15.5), three-point field goal percentage (38.2), free throw percentage (85.1) and field goal attempts (217). He ranked second on the squad in field goals made (82), three-point field goals made (52), three-point field goal attempts (136) and points (279) while appearing in 18 games.

The San Antonio, TX, native scored in double figures in 13 of the 18 games that he played in this past season, including a pair of 30-plus point performances against Texas A&M - International (31 - Nov. 23, 2004) and North Texas (33 - Dec. 11, 2004). Against Texas A&M - International, Sanchez drained eight three-pointers in the game, which was the second highest single-game mark in program history. He scored 20 or more points on five occasions and averaged 18.6 points per game at the UTPA Fieldhouse. He also collected 11.6 points per game against all Independent schools.

Senior Chris Fagan (Bronx, NY/Trinidad State College) once again finds himself as an All-Independent selection as he earned honorable mention laurels. He averaged double-digits for the Broncs for the second consecutive season, finishing second on the team with a 10.1 scoring average while appearing in all 28 games. He led the team in field goals made (92), field goal attempts (217), free throws made (83) and points (283). The Broncs' forward was also second in free throw attempts (112), rebounds (146) and steals (30) and third in assists (38) and blocked shots (15).

Fagan had 13 games of 10 or more points, including a trio of double-doubles (points-rebounds). The Bronx, NY, native finished with a 30-point, 14-rebound performance against Central Baptist (Feb. 19) while collecting 24 points and 11 rebounds at home versus UT - San Antonio (Jan. 17). He also notched a double-double against UT - Permian Basin (Dec. 16) with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Senior Eric Montalvo (La Joya, TX/La Joya H.S.) also earned honorable mention All-Independent honors as he averaged 8.2 points per game this past season. A fixture in the UTPA for four years, Montalvo started 26 of the Broncs' 28 games this past season and led the team in assists (87), steals (32) and minutes played (881). During one stretch this past season, he played in 154 consecutive minutes and was one of two Bronc players to average over 30 minutes per evening.

The La Joya product surpassed career-highs in 15 statistical categories and was ranked second among all NCAA Division I Independent players in assists per game (3.1) and seventh in steals per game (1.1). Montalvo recorded 11 games of 10 or more points and seven contests with five or more assists, including a career-high nine dishes against UT - San Antonio (Jan. 17). He was recently named an Academic All-Independent selection with a 3.667 grade point average while taking graduate classes in Counseling.

The All-Independent selections were voted on by the Sports Information Directors and head coaches of NCAA Division I Independent institutions.

UTPA Sports Information