| Freshman Melvin Johnson III had a season-high 19 points on Monday night. |
SAN ANTONIO — Freshman Melvin Johnson III and senior Morris Smith IV combined for 34 points and UTSA cruised past Texas-Pan American, 84-58, on Monday night at the Convocation Center.
With the win, the Roadrunners improved to 7-2 and extended their non-conference home court winning streak to 12 games. The Broncs fell to 1-9.
Johnson III was 5-for-6 from behind the 3-point line in tallying a season-high 19 points to lead all scorers, while Smith IV posted 15 points behind a 7-for-11 night from the floor.
UTSA shot a season-high 54.8 percent (34-62) — scoring 44 points in the paint — and was 9-for-20 from behind the arc. The Roadrunners also out-rebounded the Broncs, 44-25, and turned 13 offensive boards into 14 second-chance points.
Eleven different Roadrunners scored, as senior Omar Johnson tallied nine to go along with six assists, while senior Terry Fields scored eight. Senior Leslie Jackson grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and posted seven points on 3-for-4 shooting.
Meanwhile, Texas-Pan American shot just 36.7 percent (18-49) from the field and committed 12 turnovers, which UTSA converted into 15 points. Nick Weiermiller led the Broncs with 13 points, while Luis Valera pulled down a team-best six rebounds.
“We did a good job on the defensive end tonight,” head coach Brooks Thompson said. “I didn’t feel like we went through any extended period of time where we were flat. We held them to 37 percent, and when you do that, you’re going to give yourself a chance to win a lot of games. It’s good to get a “W” heading into the finals break.”
UTSA hit 19-of-31 (61.3 percent) from the floor in the first half, including 5-for-10 from downtown, in racing out to a 45-26 lead at the break. Smith IV scored all 15 of his points to lead 10 different Roadrunners who contributed to the scoring column in the half.
The Roadrunners used an 11-0 run capped by a layup from senior Chris Allen to break a 6-all tie and take a 17-6 lead with 12:28 to play in the first. The Broncs got back to within eight points after a pair of Valera free throws at the 5:49 mark made it 28-20. UTSA responded and closed the half on a 17-6 run for the 19-point advantage.
The lead grew to as many as 29 in the second, as UTSA cruised to its 16th win in its last 20 non-league games.
The Roadrunners will take 11 days off for final exams before traveling to Edinburg to face the Broncs on Friday, Dec. 18.