| Senior Keith Spencer registered his seventh career double-double on Monday night. |
SAN ANTONIO ? Senior Keith Spencer posted his seventh career double-double and freshman Devin Gibson led five Roadrunners in double figures with a career-high 23 points as UTSA held off Paul Quinn, 93-79, on Monday night at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners improved to 3-1 on the season with the win, their best start since also going 3-1 to begin the 2004-05 campaign, while the Tigers fell to 5-4.
UTSA shot a season-high 54 percent (34-63) from the field and held Paul Quinn, an NAIA school located in Dallas, to 17 points below its season average. The Roadrunners recorded 13 steals in forcing 27 turnovers, the third opponent with 27 or more this year. The 93 points were the most by UTSA since a 100-75 victory over McNeese State on Feb. 9, 2006.
Spencer scored a career-best 19 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Gibson’s 25 marked his second 20-point output of his young career, while senior Isaiah Allen nearly pulled off his first double-double with 11 points and a career-high nine assists. Juniors Joey Shank and Travis Gabbidon contributed 16 and 11 points, respectively.
Damien Chisholm led all players with 25 points for the Tigers, while Joseph Cormadelle added 20. Cedric Brooks scored 16 and matched Cormadelle with eight boards.
UTSA built a 13-point lead midway through the first half as Allen capped a 9-2 run with a layup at the 9:27 mark that made it 28-15.
The Tigers, who shot 52 percent (13-25) from the floor in the first half, erased a 30-19 deficit with a 15-6 run over a six-minute stretch, pulling Paul Quinn to within 36-34 with just over two minutes to play in the frame.
Paul Quinn used an 8-0 run capped by a 3-point play from Chisholm to take a 58-55 lead with 13:36 remaining. UTSA responded with seven unanswered that began an 18-2 run over the next 4:25.
The Tigers would not quit, pulling to within 81-72 with 5:48 left. A Shank jumper gave UTSA an 87-72 advantage with just under three minutes to play, but Paul Quinn scored five straight to make it a 10-point game with 1:47 left. Spencer converted two straight baskets, the second a one-handed slam dunk with 1:04 on the clock, to put the Tigers away for good.
The Roadrunners return to action Thursday against Missouri-Kansas City. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.