UTSA Roadrunners (11-5, 2-1 SLC) at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (10-9, 4-0 SLC)
Saturday, Jan. 24 ? 2 p.m.
Dugan Wellness Center ? Corpus Christi, Texas
Series History: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi leads, 6-2
Last Meeting: UTSA, 65-51 (March 1, 2008)
SAN ANTONIO ? Winners of nine of the past 11 games, UTSA (11-5, 2-1SLC) hits the road to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (10-9, 4-0 SLC)on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tip is set for 2 p.m. at Dugan Wellness Center.
Tuning In: The game will air live in the San Antonio area on Ticket 760 AMbeginning with the pregame show at 1:45 p.m. Andy Everett has the call.Free live audio will be available online at goUTSA.com, which is provided courtesy of Yahoo! Sports. Live stats will be available at goUTSA.com.
Fast Break Points:
? This will be the ninth meeting between UTSA and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
? The Islanders leads the all-time series, 6-2, including a 4-0 mark in Corpus Christi
? UTSA has won three straight and four of its last five road games
? Saturday’s game will be played in Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s on-campus Dugan Wellness Center due to a circus being booked at the American Bank Center all weekend
? The Roadrunners’ nine non-conference victories this season is a school record
? UTSA’s seven-game winning streak, which was snapped by UT Arlington last Saturday, is the longest streak in the Southland Conference this season and is the best at UTSA since the 2003-04 squad also won seven straight (Feb. 25-March 12)
? The Roadrunners have drained six or more 3-pointers in 15 games and they lead the Southland Conference and rank in the top 10 in the NCAA in threes per game (9.4)
? UTSA has made at least one 3-pointer in all 75 games under third-year head coach Brooks Thompson, including five or more treys 50 times (all 16 games this year)
? The Roadrunners are posting an SLC-best 10.8 steals (2nd/NCAA) and forcing 20.4 turnovers per contest
? UTSA leads the league and ranks seventh nationally in turnover margin (+5.4)
? Reigning NCAA steals champion sophomore Devin Gibson leads the nation with 3.6 thefts per contest
UTSA/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Series History: The Islanders lead the all-time series with UTSA, 6-2, and are 4-0 against the Roadrunners in Corpus Christi. UTSA won the last meeting, 65-51, on March 1, 2008, at the Convocation Center.
Last Meeting: Devin Gibson scored a game-high 20 points, including 14 in the second half, as UTSA ran away from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 65-51, on March 1, 2008, before a season-high crowd of 3,050 at the Convocation Center. Gibson was 6-of-8 from the floor, including a pair of 3-pointers, and 6-for-6 from the free throw line. UTSA broke open a close game at the half (27-25 lead) with a 9-2 run out of the gates behind five points from Gibson. The Islanders chipped away at the lead and fought back to within 42-39 on a 3-pointer by Antonio Topps at the 11:14 mark. The Roadrunners responded with eight unanswered points behind 3-pointers from Joey Shank and Gibson to make it 50-39 with just over nine minutes remaining. A&M-Corpus Christi made it a nine-point game on a Filip Toncinic jumper, but that was as close as the Islanders would get the rest of the way as UTSA built as much as a 17-point lead down the stretch. Justin Reynolds led the Islanders with 10 points, while Demond Watt posted eight points and a game-high nine rebounds. UTSA forced 21 turnovers, converting those miscues into 23 points. The Roadrunners committed only nine turnovers and shot 46.8 percent for the game, including 51.9 percent in the second half. The Islanders shot 47.5 percent, but made just 3-of-15 from behind the arc.
Scouting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: The Islanders have won their first four Southland Conference games and stand at 10-9 overall on the year. Junior transfer Kevin Palmer leads the team in scoring at 17.4 points per game and he also has posted 88 rebounds (4.6 rpg), 52 assists and 52 steals. Head coach Perry Clark is 19-29 in his second season at the helm.
Last Time Out: 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. 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, 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.
Road Warriors: The Roadrunners played seven of their first 10 games away from the Convocation Center, but finished that stretch with a 3-4 record. UTSA is an even 4-4 in road games this season and dating back to last February, is 7-5 in its past 12 true road contests.
Non-Conference Success: UTSA picked up its ninth non-conference victory of the regular season on Wednesday against Texas-Pan American, breaking the school record of eight set in 1990-91. The Roadrunners have recorded six wins against Division I teams ? Rice, UMKC, Georgia State, SMU, Colgate, Texas-Pan American ? which is the most out of league play since the 1989-90 team also won six. The 1990-91 squad won a school-record eight. Three of this year’s non-conference DI victories have come on the road, the most since UTSA joined a conference (Trans America Athletic) in 1986-87.
Off To A Good Start: At 10-5, UTSA registered its best 15-game start since the 2001-02 team also began with a 10-5 mark. Five teams have started 10-5, which rank second only to 11-4 starts in 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Let’s Go Streaking: UTSA’s seven-game winning streak that began with a 76-72 win at UMKC on Dec. 22 and continued through a 62-55 victory at Nicholls on Jan. 14 is the longest in the Southland Conference this season and the best at UTSA since the 2003-04 squad also won seven straight from Feb. 25-March 12.
Senior Snags SLC Honor: Senior Travis Gabbidon was named Southland Conference Player of the Week on Jan. 5 after he averaged 19.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game to help lead UTSA to a 2-0 record against SMU and Colgate. In the Roadrunners’ 80-75 win at SMU on Dec. 29 ? the second road victory against a Conference USA team this season ? Gabbidon was 6-for-9 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line in scoring a team-high 18 points and he added seven rebounds. The senior from Phoenix, Ariz., broke a school record with a 10-for-10 performance from the free throw line en route to a season-high 20 points and contributed four boards and a block in the 76-66 victory over Colgate on Jan. 2. For the week, Gabbidon shot 50 percent (10-of-20) from the floor and 93.8 percent (15-of-16) from the charity stripe.
Roadrunners In The Rankings: For the third straight week, UTSA is receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll, which ranks the top 25 teams from mid-major conferences around the country. Fellow Southland member Stephen F. Austin is ranked No. 16, while Lamar is No. 24. In the latest RPI Report, UTSA is ranked No. 167 out of 343 Division I teams, which is fifth among SLC schools behind SFA (65), Lamar (128), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (156) and UT Arlington (164). The Southland Conference is rated 19th among 32 conferences.
Victory No. 400: UTSA claimed victory No. 400 for the program with an 80-55 decision against McMurry on Nov. 25. The Roadrunners own an all-time record of 409-375 (.522) in now their 28th season.
Record-Setting Night: UTSA set six school records in the 136-68 victory against East Central on Nov. 22, as the Roadrunners improved to 24-4 all-time and 3-0 under third-year head coach Brooks Thompson in home openers. Following is a list of the broken records:
Points: 136 [132, vs. Texas State (11/24/90)]
Winning Margin: 68 [58, vs. Georgia State (2/10/90)]
Field Goal Attempts: 97 [91, vs. Georgia State (1/22/87)]
Rebounds: 65 [64, vs. Jarvis Christian (11/29/86)]
3-Pointers: 17 [17, vs. Stephen F. Austin (1/18/97)]
3-Point Field Goal Attempts: 43 [37. vs. Northwestern State (1/19/08)]
Additionally, UTSA set Southland Conference season highs for points, margin of victory, field goals (51), field goal attempts, 3-point field goals, 3-point field goal attempts and rebounds in that contest.
Creating Havoc: The Roadrunners are forcing their opponents into an average of 20.4 turnovers per game this season. Seven opponents have committed 20 or more, led by a season-high 34 from East Central on Nov. 22. A large reason for UTSA’s success in creating opponent miscues is the fact that the team is coming up with a league-best 10.8 steals per contest (2nd/NCAA). Led by 2007-08 NCAA steals champion Devin Gibson, a sophomore who leads the nation with 3.6 thefts per game despite going steal-less against Oklahoma State and Navy, all 13 Roadrunners have teamed up to record 173 steals this year. That number includes 109 in eight home games (13.6 spg), highlighted by a Brooks Thompson era best of 20 against East Central.
Taking Care Of The Rock: UTSA has been effective in taking care of the basketball this season. The Roadrunners are averaging 14.9 turnovers per game and boast the top turnover margin (+5.4) in the Southland Conference (7th/NCAA). UTSA has topped 20 turnovers in a game just twice this season, but still forced more by its opponents (Texas Wesleyan, Texas-Pan American) and won both games. The season-low of seven came in the 76-72 win at UMKC on Dec. 22.
Hitting The Trifecta: The Roadrunners have been productive from beyond the 3-point line this season. Even with the arc moved one foot further from the basket, UTSA has shown it still can fill it up from downtown. Led by senior Joey Shank (41) and juniors Omar Johnson (32) and Morris Smith IV (30), the Roadrunners have drained 150 threes for a conference-leading 9.4 per-game average (6th/NCAA), as 10 different Roadrunners have contributed from behind the arc this season. UTSA has made at least one 3-pointer in all 75 games under third-year head coach Brooks Thompson, including five or more 50 times and six or more in 15 games this season. UTSA had made at least one three in 435 consecutive contests dating back to Jan. 5, 1994 (vs. Texas).
Balanced Attack: Led by seniors Travis Gabbidon (13.8) and Joey Shank (9.4), junior Omar Johnson (14.7) and sophomore Devin Gibson (11.3), UTSA has displayed a balanced scoring attack this season. Six other Roadrunners are averaging at least four points per contest: juniors Morris Smith IV (7.9), Demarco Stepter (5.2), Josh Bonney (5.4), Richie Frohlich (4.5), Chris Allen (4.2) and Terry Fields (4.1).
Double-Double Tracker: UTSA has registered eight double-doubles this year, including a team-best three by junior Demarco Stepter.
Demarco Stepter, East Central (Nov. 22): 12 points, 11 rebounds
Devin Gibson, Texas-Pan American (Dec. 18): 16 points, 10 assists
Demarco Stepter, UMKC (Dec. 22) : 15 points, 11 rebounds
Demarco Stepter, SMU (Dec. 29): 10 points, 10 rebounds
Josh Bonney, Nicholls (Jan. 14): 15 points, 13 rebounds
Richie Frohlich, UT Arlington (Jan. 17): 14 points, 10 rebounds
Travis Gabbidon, UT Arlington (Jan. 17): 23 points, 10 rebounds
Travis Gabbidon, UT Arlington (Jan. 24): 23 points, 12 rebounds
Gibson Up For Cousy Award: Sophomore Devin Gibson, the 2007-08 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, has been named a preseason nominee for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation’s top point guard. The Cy-Falls High product is one of three SLC players (Eric Bell, Stephen F. Austin; Kenny Dawkins, Lamar) and one of 46 nationally now on the watch list. Gibson, the 2007-08 NCAA steals leader (3.3 spg), is averaging 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.6 steals (1st/NCAA) per game this season.
Moving On Up: Sophomore Devin Gibson is making his way up a pair of UTSA career charts. The Houston native currently has 150 steals in 44 career games (3.4 spg), which is seventh on the school’s all-time chart and only five behind David President (155) for sixth place. No Roadrunner has recorded more thefts than Gibson in less than two full seasons. He also has tallied 577 points (13.1 ppg), ranking him 38th, is eighth in free throw percentage (.702) and stands ninth with 221 free throws. He also is on pace to appear on the school’s top-10 career list for assists (201, 10th=214) this season and the top 50 chart for rebounds (173, 50th=193).
More Preseason Accolades: In addition to making the Cousy Award preseason list, Gibson also has been named preseason first-team all-conference and a CollegeHoops.net Preseason Mid-Major All-American.
Welcome Back: Senior Travis Gabbidon and junior Omar Johnson both were plagued with injuries last season, but have emerged as two of the team’s top scorers this year. Gabbidon, a Phoenix native and JUCO All-American at College of Southern Idaho, was UTSA’s leading scorer (13.9) and rebounder (5.8) until he went down with a season-ending injury at Lamar on Jan. 12. That happened one game after he scored 31 ? the program’s first 30-point outing since 2003-04 ? and grabbed nine boards against Texas-Pan American. Gabbidon is averaging 13.8 points (T-14th/SLC) and 6.1 rebounds (16th/SLC) per game this season, including 16.4 points and 7.8 boards over the last eight contests, and is shooting 76 percent (57-of-75) from the free throw line (7th/SLC). Johnson, a Philadelphia native and JUCO All-American at Barton County, missed all of last season with a stress reaction, but has made an immediate impact in his first 15 contests (missed Dec. 18 UTPA game with concussion). He leads the team in scoring at 14.7 points per game (9th/SLC) behind 32-of-69 (46.4%) shooting from beyond the 3-point line and has dished out a team-best 67 assists (4.5 avg).
Model of Consistency: Senior Travis Gabbidon has been one of UTSA’s most consistent players in his two-year career. In his 30 games with the Roadrunners, the Phoenix native has reached double figures in scoring 25 times, including a career-best 31 against Texas-Pan American last season and a season-high 23 in each of the last two games. He also has grabbed five or more rebounds 17 times, including a career high of 14 against Texas Wesleyan in 2007 and a season-high 12 versus Texas-Pan American on Jan. 21. His 179 career rebounds are just 14 shy of 50th on UTSA’s career list. Gabbidon was named Southland Conference Player of the Week on Jan. 5 after averaging 19.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in victories against SMU and Colgate.
Pinpoint Accuracy: Junior Omar Johnson has displayed pinpoint accuracy from behind the 3-point line in his first 15 games with the Roadrunners. The Simon Gratz High product has connected on 32-of-69 (46.4%) from downtown and is shooting 46.3 percent (69-149) from the floor overall. He ranks ninth in the Southland Conference in scoring (14.7 ppg), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.464) and 10th in 3-pointers made per game (2.1). Additionally, Johnson’s 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game stand fourth and seventh, respectively, among league players.
No Shank Shots: Senior Joey Shank has been a consistent threat from behind the arc in his 44 games with the Roadrunners. Last year, the Folsom, Calif., native drained 67 threes, the sixth-best season in school history, and made three or more in a game 12 times. He put his name next to the program’s single-game record with eight treys in a win over Northwestern State last January and he nearly matched that effort with seven against Rice on Dec. 4 of this season, tallying a career-best 26 points in both contests. Shank, who has made six or more trifectas in five career games and is tied with Steve Meyer for eighth place on UTSA’s career chart with 108 threes, has connected on 41-of-102 3-pointers (40.2%) this year. His career 38.7 3-point field goal percentage stands third all-time in school annals. This year, Shank ranks eighth in the Southland Conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.402) and sixth in 3-pointers made per game (2.6).
Wiping The Glass: The junior duo of Josh Bonney and Demarco Stepter has made an immediate impact on the glass this season. Bonney, a native of White Castle, La., posted his first double-double in a UTSA uniform with 15 points and a season-high 13 rebounds in the 62-55 win at Nicholls and is averaging 4.5 boards per contest. Stepter, who hails from Memphis, Tenn., leads the team with a 6.2 rebounding average (14th/SLC). He is one of six league players with three or more double-doubles with 12 points and 11 rebounds against East Central, a season-high 15 points to go along with 11 boards against UMKC and 10 and 10 at SMU. He nearly posted his fourth with eight points and 11 rebounds in the Colgate victory.
SLC Preseason Polls: UTSA has been picked to finish third in the West Division of the Southland Conference by the league’s sports information directors and fourth by the head coaches in the preseason polls. The Roadrunners received two first-place votes and 43 points in the SIDs poll to rank behind UT Arlington and Lamar, while they tallied 39 points for fourth behind UT Arlington, Lamar and Sam Houston State in the coaches poll. Stephen F. Austin is the unanimous choice to win the East.
Up Next: UTSA hosts Texas State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The game will be televised in the San Antonio area on Time Warner Cable channel 50.
