UTSA, Nicholls State Earn Monday Night Victories
Four Roadrunners scored in double figures, including Devin Gibson who scored 14 points as UTSA extended its winning streak to five games with a 98-67 victory over Texas Wesleyan. Nicholls State got a career-high 27 points from Fred Hunter to help lead the Colonels to an 80-56 victory over Southern-New Orleans.
UTSA 98, Texas Wesleyan 67
SAN ANTONIO, Texas ? Sophomore Devin Gibson led four Roadrunners in double figures with 14 points and UTSA blasted Texas Wesleyan, 98-67, to extend its winning streak to five games on Monday night at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners improved to 8-4 on the season and 3-0 all-time against the Rams, whose record of 10-1 did not change as the game counted as an exhibition. UTSA now has turned in the longest winning streak since the 2003-04 squad won seven straight and the eight non-conference victories is tied with the 1989-90 and 1990-91 teams for the most in school history since joining a conference in 1986-87. UTSA also moved its record to a perfect 5-0 at home and is 14-3 in non-conference contests at the Convo under third-year head coach Brooks Thompson.
“It was nice to see us come out and take a big lead early,” Thompson said. “It’s tough to keep your focus the entire game with that big of a lead, but our guys did a good job of not letting Texas Wesleyan back into the game. It was nice to see all 13 guys get a good amount of playing time and our bench did a phenomenal job overall.”
Gibson scored all 14 of his points in the first half and added six rebounds and five steals. Senior Joey Shank drained a pair of 3-pointers en route to 12 points, while senior Travis Gabbidon and junior Morris Smith IV contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
All 13 Roadrunners scored and UTSA got 51 points from its bench, including junior Richie Frohlich’s near double-double of nine points and a team-best eight rebounds. Junior Chris Allen tacked on eight points, as UTSA shot a season-high 55.4 percent (31-of-56) from the floor. The Roadrunners made 10 threes, the 11th game this season with at least seven, and shot 70.3 percent (26-of-37) from the free throw line.
Gibson’s five steals helped UTSA post 16 thefts and force 23 Texas Wesleyan turnovers.
The Roadrunners opened the game on a 13-2 run behind seven points from Gibson through the first four minutes and never looked back. UTSA eventually opened up a 25-point advantage at the half (51-26) behind 58.1-percent shooting in the frame.
The lead grew to as many as 35 late in the second half when Frohlich connected in the paint with 5:22 to play.
Terrell Henry led Texas Wesleyan with 17 points, while Ryan Barnes pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. The Rams shot just 38.3 percent, including 4-of-11 (36.4 percent) from behind the arc.
UTSA opens Southland Conference play against McNeese State at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10.
Nicholls State 80, Southern-New Orleans 56
THIBODAUX, La. ? Nicholls State used a 17-0 run through the end of the opening half to take a 44-22 lead to the locker room and an eventual 80-56 victory over Southern-New Orleans in the final non-conference game of the season Monday night in Stopher Gym.
The Colonels (7-6) now enter Southland Conference play with a winning record for the first time since the 1994-95 season.
Freshman Fred Hunter established a career high, pouring in 27 points as he went 11-for-13 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from downtown.
Hunter, along with sophomore Dominic Friend, led Nicholls with six rebounds.
Also reaching double figures was senior Ryan Bathie, who picked up 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting.
Senior Justin Payne, who entered the game ranked 59th in the nation in steals per game with 2.2, grabbed four steals.
After entering the game as the No. 37 team in the country in assists per contest (16.2), the Colonels passed out 18, led by sophomore Kellan Carter with six.
Nicholls shot 58.8 percent (30-for-51) from the floor, sinking 17-of-27 (63.0 percent) in the opening 20 minutes.
“We’re pleased to be 7-6 and excited about getting conference play underway,” Nicholls coach J.P. Piper said. “I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished up to this point, but we need to continue to build on it and continue to make progress going into Saturday and get league play underway.”
The Colonels open Southland Conference play Saturday, traveling to Natchitoches, La. to face Northwestern State in a doubleheader with the women’s team.