| Junior Keith Spencer had his sixth double-double of the year on Thursday night. |
SAN ANTONIO — Juniors Keith Spencer and Andrew Francis scored 15 apiece and senior Dwain Hall added a career-high 12, but Jejuan Plair led three Sam Houston State players in double figures with 17 as the Bearkats defeated UTSA, 73-61, in Southland Conference action Thursday night at the Convocation Center.
Spencer recorded his sixth double-double of the season as he pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds for the Roadrunners (6-22, 2-13 SLC). Hall scored all 12 of his points in the first half to top his previous career-high of eight set in the win against San Diego in November. Senior Kurt Attaway, who played his final home game along with Hall, posted eight points, five assists and five steals.
Plair made 5-of-7 from the field, including three 3-pointers, to lead the Bearkats (21-8, 13-2 SLC), who remain in a tie for first place in the West Division with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Ryan Bright added 14 points and 10 boards, while C.J. Hadley scored 11.
UTSA grabbed an early 8-2 lead, but a 14-2 run by the Bearkats gave them a 22-10 advantage midway through the first half. A Melvin Smith jumper cut the deficit to seven points with just under two minutes remaining in the half, but Hadley and Plair connected from downtown to help Sam Houston State take a 36-25 lead at the break.
The Bearkats built the lead to 20 points at the 15-minute mark and held a comfortable advantage until a late Roadrunner run made it a 69-57 game with just under two minutes left. A pair of Francis free throws and a Spencer rebound and follow pulled the Roadrunners to within 71-61 with 54 seconds remaining, but Sam Houston State held on, getting two free throws and a turnover in the final seconds to hold on for the 73-61 win.
The Roadrunners conclude the season on Saturday at Stephen F. Austin. Tip is set for 6 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum.