· Box score
HUNTSVILLE — Junior Andrew Francis and sophomore Aldric Reynolds scored 14 points apiece to lead four Roadrunners in double figures, but Aaron Wade drained all five of his 3-point attempts en route to a game-high 20 points to lead Sam Houston State past UTSA, 76-64, on Thursday night at Johnson Coliseum.
Junior Keith Spencer added 13 points and joined Francis with a team-high five rebounds. Meanwhile, junior Melvin Smith pitched in 10 points, his 15th double-digit outing of the year, for the Roadrunners (5-15, 1-6 SLC). Senior Kurt Attaway dished out a game-high nine assists to go along with seven points.
Wade was nearly perfect from the field, helping the Bearkats (14-7, 7-2 SLC) shoot 47.6 percent (10-21) from downtown. C.J Hadley (12) and Jejuan Plair (10) also reached double figures, while Ryan Bright pulled down a game-high nine boards.
The Roadrunners had the hot hand early, draining their first five field goals in building a 10-2 lead. UTSA still held a 12-4 advantage until the Bearkats began the 3-point barrage. A McDaniel trey from the right wing gave Sam Houston its first lead, 19-18, with 8:12 left in the half.
The Bearkats finished with six 3-pointers in the half and carried a 37-28 lead into the break despite UTSA shooting 52.2 percent (12-23).
Sam Houston State used a 7-0 run to start the second half and eventually built 63-40 lead with just under 10 minutes to play.
UTSA made things interesting late, as Spencer converted two straight baskets to pull the Roadrunners to within 65-52 with 5:32 remaining. Reynolds drained a trey from the left corner to make it a 12-point game, but Wade made his fifth of the night with 4:12 to play to push the lead back to 15.
Reynolds sank another 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 70-58 with 3:42 to play, but the Plair converted a 3-point play at the other end to help seal it.
UTSA nearly matched its best shooting performance of the season, making 25 of its 46 field goals attempts for 54.3 percent. The Roadrunners' season high was 55.3 percent in the San Diego victory.
The Roadrunners return home to host Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Convocation Center.
