Dec. 27, 2005
Contact: Rick Nixon (210) 458-4551
UTSA rallies for 12-point win over Cal State Fullerton
Box Score
MIAMI, Fla. - Andre Owens (Irving, Texas) produced a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double as the UTSA Roadrunners rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to score a 88-76 victory over the Cal State Fullerton Titans in the first round of the Florida International Tournament held at Pharmed Arena.
UTSA, which broke a two-game losing streak, placed four in double figures as Gabe Bernard (Los Angeles, Calif.) added a career-high 15 points, Aldric Reynolds (Houston, Texas) scored a career-high 12 points, and Roderick Rodgers (Dallas, Texas) added 12 points and seven rebounds. The Roadrunners improved to 4-5 with the victory.
Cal State Fullerton, which fell to 5-3, was led by Bobby Brown's 30 points, while Jamaal Brown added 14.
"This win was a credit to our team staying together and believing they could win," said UTSA coach Tim Carter. "The difference was that we hit layups, made free throws and rebounded aggressively. To beat a team like Fullerton, which is the preseason favorite of the Big West Conference, is a huge confidence booster for us."
Trailing 40-33 at halftime, UTSA opened the second half with a 19-11 run and went ahead to stay, 52-51 on a Rodgers layup with 13:48 to play.
UTSA stretched the advantage to 66-57 on two Bernard free throws with 8:00 remaining.
Brown, who connected on six 3-pointers in the game, brought Cal State Fullerton back to within 71-69 on a 3-pointer with 4:28 to play.
Owens answered with a layup for UTSA, and after several Titan misses, Bernard connected on a jump shot to give the Roadrunners a 75-69 lead with 2:48 remaining.
Cal State Fullerton was unable to cut into the UTSA lead as the Roadrunners were able to connect on 23 of 27 free throws on the night. UTSA went 11 for 12 from the line over the final two minutes and outscored the Titans, 55-36, in the second half.
"It was a big win for us," said Rodgers, who was six for eight from the field. "To win a game like this will give us a boost for the rest of the season. We had a number of guys step up today. That's what it take's for us to win."
After leading by seven points early in the first half, UTSA saw Cal State Fullerton outscore them 23-9 over the final 9:49 and led 40-33 at halftime. Owens had 15 first half points for the Roadrunners, while Bobby Brown had 13 for the Titans.
UTSA ended the night shooting 52.6 percent from the field, and out-rebounded Cal State Fullerton by a 44-32 margin.
The Roadrunners, who claimed the 2001 Florida International Tournament championship, will be looking for their second straight title in Miami when they play in the championship game on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. CST against either St. Bonaventure or Florida International.