NATCHITOCHES, La. — Junior Andrew Francis posted his first double-double in a Roadrunner uniform, but Gerrell Thomas and Kennan Jones combined for 32 points to lead Northwestern State past UTSA, 82-62, in Southland Conference men’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Prather Coliseum.
Francis scored a season-high 16 points and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds to lead the Roadrunners (4-12, 0-3 SLC). Junior Melvin Smith scored 18 on 7-of-11 shooting, while junior Isaiah Allen added 12 points. UTSA outrebounded the Demons, 40-29, and shot 38.3 percent (18-47) from the field.
Jones and Thomas scored 16 apiece for the Demons, who moved to 7-9 overall and 2-2 in the league. Sixteen different players saw the floor for Northwestern State, which shot 50 percent (27-54) for the game.
Fouls played a large role, as the two teams combined for 64 whistles. UTSA was called for 35 fouls and five different players fouled out, including Allen, Smith and senior Dwain Hall. The two teams shot 38 free throws apiece, with UTSA making 23 for 60.5 percent and Northwestern State converting 26 for 68.4 percent.
UTSA led 20-19 on a Smith layup at the 8:53 mark of the first half, but a 7-0 run broke open a tight game, as Northwestern State took a 30-22 lead on a Trey Gilder layup with 3:52 remaining in the half. The Demons increased the advantage to as many as 16 points, closing the half with a 21-6 stretch for a 44-28 lead.
The Roadrunners shot 52.9 percent (9-17) from the floor in the half but struggled from the free throw line, converting just 9-of-18. Meanwhile, Northwestern State blistered the nets at a 59.3 percent clip (16-27) and made 11-of-13 free throws.
UTSA got to within 13 points after a pair of Francis freebies at the 8:33 mark, but the Demons pulled away with a 12-4 run the next 4:31 and ran away for the 20-point victory.
The Roadrunners return home to host Texas-Arlington on Thursday, Jan. 18. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
