| Senior Travis Gabbidon posted his second double-double in a row on Wednesday night (photo by Tom Reel/San Antonio Express-News). |
SAN ANTONIO ? Senior Travis Gabbidon posted his second straight double-double to lead UTSA to an 83-72 victory against Texas-Pan American on Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.
The victory gave UTSA (11-5) its ninth non-conference victory of the season, breaking the previous record of eight established by the 1990-91 squad. In breaking a four-game losing streak to the Broncs (5-12), the Roadrunners also picked up their ninth straight non-league win at home.
Gabbidon poured in 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor and also converted 7-of-9 from the free throw line in matching his season high turned in against UT Arlington on Saturday. The Phoenix, Ariz., native also grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds, his third consecutive double-digit outing, and recorded a career-best six steals.
Juniors Omar Johnson (16) and Josh Bonney (13) joined Gabbidon in double figures, as UTSA shot 54.5 percent (24-44) from the floor overall, its second-best performance of the season (55.4% vs. Texas Wesleyan). The Roadrunners also made 74.4 percent (29-39) from the charity stripe and forced 23 Broncs turnovers, 10 of which were steals.
UTSA stormed out of the gate, grabbing a quick 10-0 lead before Emmanuel Jones dunked home the first points of the game for the Broncs at the 15:20 mark. UTPA then used an 8-0 run to erase a 23-15 deficit and knot the score with eight minutes remaining in the half.
A 13-0 run pushed UTSA’s lead to double digits at 36-23 with 4:32 to play in the first. Nick Weiermiller stopped the bleeding with a three, but the Roadrunners still finished the half up, 42-31.
The Broncs fought back to within four points, as Jones capped a 14-7 run to start the second half with a one-handed put-back.
UTSA responded with a 13-4 stretch over the next four minutes in taking a 62-49 advantage on a Johnson freebie.
UTPA would cut the deficit to single digits and a Weiermiller layup with 41 ticks left made it 78-72. The Roadrunner would hold on, though, as junior Morris Smith IV made 3-of-4 free throws and Gabbidon drained two more to ice the 83-72 victory.
Jones led the Broncs with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Weiermiller and Ben Smith scored 17 and 11, respectively.
The Roadrunners return to Southland Conference play at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday. Tip is set for 2 p.m. at Dugan Wellness Center.