| Jan. 22, 2005
Contact: Rick Nixon, 210-269-7110 UTSA men hand Northwestern State first conference loss, 86-78 Box Score
SAN ANTONIO - John Millsap led four UTSA players in double figures with 18 points as the Roadrunners handed Northwestern State its first Southland Conference (SLC) loss, 86-78, on Saturday afternoon at the UTSA Convocation Center.
UTSA improved to 9-7 overall and 4-1 in SLC play as Rapheal Posey added 14 points, while Andre Owens and Kurt Attaway scored 12 apiece. With the win UTSA improved to 7-0 at the Convocation Center this season and has now won 11 straight at home.
Northwestern State fell to 11-9 overall and 5-1 in SLC play. The first-place Demons were led by Keenan Jones with 22 points, while Jermaine Wallace added 17 and Jermaine Spencer, 15.
"It was a hard-fought victory and one that we had to have to stay in contention for the conference title," said UTSA coach Tim Carter. "This was our third game this week so I was worried about whether we would be able to have the energy to win a game like this. I was proud of the way we played against a very good team in Northwestern State."
Leading 32-29 at halftime, UTSA opened the second half with a 8-2 run and led 40-31 after a layup by Attaway with 17:27 remaining.
After Northwestern State rallied to tie the score at 44-44 with 12:55 remaining, UTSA never relinquished the lead as Posey came off of the bench with 14 second half points. His 3-point field goal with 3:02 remaining helped push UTSA back to a 72-65 lead.
The Roadrunners were able to maintain the advantage with solid free throw shoooting, making 26 of 38 in the game. Northwestern State could get no closer than six points the rest of the game.
Millsap had 10 first half points as UTSA had grabbed a 32-29 halftime lead.
For the second straight game UTSA connected on 54.7 percent of its shots from the field, shooting 29 of 53. The Roadrunners cut back on the turnovers as well with only 14 miscues.
UTSA will return to action next Saturday, Jan. 29 with a 4 p.m. home game against Southeastern Louisiana.
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