SAN ANTONIO ? The UTSA men’s basketball team will hold its first official practice on Friday, Oct. 12, from 7-9 p.m. The practice is closed to the public, but the Roadrunner Ruckus will take place in the Convocation Center, beginning with free barbeque served outside at 8 p.m. Doors open at 9 p.m. with free admission, several prizes and slam dunk and 3-point shooting contests.
Second-year head coach Brooks Thompson welcomes back five letterwinners ? including four starters ? from last season’s 7-22 squad. Seniors Isaiah Allen, Andrew Francis, Melvin Smith and Keith Spencer and sophomore Dezon Otis join a group of 10 newcomers on this year’s team. Smith, a 6-3 guard from Covington, Tenn., led UTSA in scoring last season at 12.9 points per game, while Allen, a 6-3 guard from Portland, Ore., and Francis, a 6-8 forward from Houston, pitched in 10.4 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Spencer, a 6-8 forward from San Diego, Calif., led the Roadrunners in rebounding with 7.1 boards per contest.
A promising group of new players includes junior transfers Antoine Dade (6-8, F/C, Orlando, Fla.), Travis Gabbidon (6-7, F, Phoenix, Ariz.), Orrin Greer (6-3, G, Monroe, La.), Omar Johnson (5-7, G, Philadelphia, Pa.) and Joey Shank (6-3, G, Folsom, Calif.) and freshmen E.B. Davis (6-4, G/F, Chicago, Ill.), Cody Dotson-Lara (6-1, G, San Antonio), Devin Gibson (6-0, G, Houston), JohnMark Ludwick (6-7, F, San Antonio) and Russ Permenter (6-9, F/C, Temple).
UTSA opens the exhibition season against Mary-Hardin Baylor at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3. The Roadrunners host Hardin-Simmons in the regular season opener at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9.
