| Sophomore Devin Gibson scored 16 points and dished out 10 assists on Thursday. |
EDINBURG ? Sophomore Devin Gibson posted his fourth career double-double, but Emmanuel Jones led all players with 24 points and nine rebounds to help Texas-Pan American edge UTSA, 74-72, on Thursday night at UTPA Fieldhouse.
Gibson tallied 16 points and a game-high 10 assists for his first double-double of the year and added two rebounds and a pair of steals in a game that came down to the wire.
Trailing 68-61 with six-and-a-half minutes to play, junior Morris Smith IV and senior Travis Gabbidon connected from downtown over the next 1:50 to pull the Roadrunners to within one. UTPA extended the lead to 72-67 on a pair of baskets from Jones, but Gibson converted a 3-point play with 1:46 remaining to cut the deficit to two.
Jones was money again in the paint for the Broncs 18 ticks later, but Gibson knocked down a jumper in the lane to make it a one-possession game with 1:18 remaining.
UTPA milked the clock then turned the ball over on a Weiermiller traveling violation with half a minute to play. Smith IV had a good look at a three from the right wing that rimmed out and Weiermiller grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He missed the front end of the one-and-one, giving UTSA one last chance to tie or take the lead with three ticks remaining.
UTSA’s first two inbound passes were knocked out of bounds, leaving 0.3 seconds on the clock. Gabbidon then inbounded from in front of the scorer’s table to Shank on the far wing, but his one-touch, mid-air, NBA-range three-point attempt fell just off the front of the rim as time expired.
UTPA (4-7) shot 51.5 percent in the first half and took advantage of UTSA (3-4) foul trouble in building a 39-32 halftime lead.
Gibson capped an 8-0 run with a 3-point play to give UTSA a 20-12 lead midway through the first half.
The Broncs answered with an 11-4 run capped by a Maree trey to put UTPA on top, 25-24, with just over five minutes to play in the first. Weiermiller knocked down a fast-break three at the 1:25 mark to push UTPA’s lead to 39-30.
The lead grew to as many as 11 early in the second half, but a 3-pointer from the right wing by Gabbidon pulled the Roadrunners to within 50-47 with 13:53 to play.
Shank drained a trey and then a steal and fast-break layup by Gibson at the 12:21 mark knotted the score at 52-all. Allen answered a Jones basket with a three to give the Roadrunners a 55-54 lead with 10:30 remaining.
The two teams traded leads until UTPA built its seven-point advantage to set up the final six minutes of action.
Gabbidon scored nine of his 11 points in the second half to join Gibson in double figures, while Shank, Smith and junior Chris Allen posted nine points apiece.
UTSA converted 10-of-18 from behind the 3-point line and now have made nine or more threes in all seven games this season. The Roadrunners shot 53.8 percent from the floor overall and out-rebounded UTPA, 29-28.
Nathan Hawkins (15), Jared Maree (12) and Weiermiller (11) joined Jones in double figures for the Broncs, who shot 55 percent for the game, including 59.3 percent in the second half.
Junior Omar Johnson, who started the first six games of the year at point guard, missed the contest with a concussion.
The Roadrunners return to action on Monday, Dec. 22, when they face UMKC at 7 p.m. in Kansas City, Mo.