GREENVILLE, N.C. – A solid start and an even second half didn’t spell a win for the visiting UTSA men’s basketball team (4-20, 0-12 AMER) on Wednesday in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum, as a key 13-3 first-half East Carolina (8-16, 3-8 AMER) scoring push swung the momentum and gave the Pirates just enough cushion to the 88-72 win and their first home conference victory.
Playing even more shorthanded than other recent games, the Roadrunners claimed the upper hand early with multiple scorers keeping UTSA in front throughout the first four minutes. East Carolina’s leading scorer, Jordan Riley edged the Pirates in front after converting a backcourt steal into a layup with 14:41 to go and a second forced turnover became an Isaiah Mbeng dunk just seconds later, but the Roadrunners kept the game within two possessions over the next three minutes.
However, the Pirates stalled the UTSA offense just as they started to fire up their own, as the Roadrunners missed 18-of-19 shots over a six-minute stretch and the Pirates made 7-of-11 on their end at the same time to create a 13-3 run that changed the face of the game.
After the lead grew to as much as 18 with 3:35 left in the opening half, back-to-back scores from Baboucarr Njie chipped away at the ECU advantage, then Brent Moss and Jamir Simpson hit consecutive threes near the final minute mark to bring the deficit to 12 points. ECU used a physical final possession to end the half on a Demitri Gardner three with time expiring for the 46-31 halftime lead.
While holding up the Pirates to open the second half, UTSA made three of its first four shots, trimming the game to 11 points on an LJ Brown three. However, increased rebounding and offensive presence from center Giovanni Emejuru helped the Pirates to fend off the crucial Roadrunner rally – as the ECU big man registered seven rebounds, three scores and two blocks in the first seven minutes of the new half to help the Pirates rebuild their advantage.
The Roadrunners continued to battle and twice more Brent Moss threes brought the Roadrunners into rally position, but the Pirates held up their offensive momentum and wrapped up the 88-72 win.
UTSA went score-for-score with East Carolina in the second half, trailing just 42-41 in the period. A big force for the Roadrunners in the second half effort, Daniel Akitoby finished with season highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double at UTSA, shooting 7-of-12 and grabbing seven offensive boards. Moss made five threes to finish with 15, while Kaidon Rayfield had 12 with seven rebounds and five assists and Simpson scored 11 with five rebounds and four assists.
Up Next
UTSA will head back to North Carolina over the weekend, traveling to Charlotte for a Feb. 15 rematch at Halton Arena in a nationally televised bout on ESPNU. The next home contest for the Roadrunners is a Feb. 18 rematch with Florida Atlantic at the Convo for Student Appreciation night.
- UTSA -