SAN ANTONIO — Senior Devin Gibson, sophomore Melvin Johnson III and freshman Jeromie Hill combined for 64 points and UTSA survived a late rally by UT Arlington for a 70-62 victory Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.
Gibson registered his sixth 20-point game of the season and 21st of his career with 24, largely behind a 10-for-15 night at the free-throw line, to help the Roadrunners improve to 11-9 overall and move into first place in the Southland Conference West Division at 4-3. The Houston native tied a season high with six steals, one shy of his career high, and added five rebounds and four assists.
Johnson III poured in 22 points behind four 3-pointers to match his career high, while Hill posted 18 points behind an 8-for-14 night from the floor.
Bradley Gay and LaMarcus Reed scored 14 and 13, respectively, to lead the Mavericks, who fell to 10-10 and 4-3.
UTSA held a 10-point lead with 1:49 to play but had to hang on for survival in the 60th all-time meeting between the two schools (most-played series in program history).
Junior Sei Paye made a pair of free throws to give UTSA a 60-50 lead, but UT Arlington scored seven unanswered points — the last three on a long trey by Ingram from the wing — to make it a one-possession game with 1:16 on the clock.
Reed made one of two at the line and then converted a three-point play after a steal to pull the Mavericks to within six at 60-54.
UTSA was fouled intentionally and, after Gibson missed the front end of a one-and-one, Gay connected from long range at the other end to make it a one-possession game.
Again, the Roadrunners were fouled and Hill made one of two at the charity stripe. Reed then misfired from downtown and Hill slammed it home at the other end to make it 63-57 with 46 ticks remaining.
The Mavericks would not quit, as Cameron Catlett drained a jumper and then put Gibson back on the line. He made one of two and Armani Williams hit from beyond the arc to pull UT Arlington to within a pair (64-62) with 31 seconds to go.
Gibson was fouled again and made both for a four-point advantage. Darius Richardson missed a 3-pointer, but Catlett came up with the offensive board in the corner. However, he fell down with the ball and was whistled for traveling. UT Arlington coach Scott Cross was whistled for a technical foul for his reaction to the call with 14.2 seconds left and Johnson III made both free throws to make it 68-62 and ice the game for UTSA.
UTSA trailed by two at the half but used a 19-4 run in the second to build a lead. UT Arlington led, 37-28, early in the second, but the Roadrunners scored seven consecutive points and eventually took a 43-41 lead after a Johnson III jumper. Gibson then converted on back-to-back possessions to help grow the lead to 47-41 with 7:39 remaining.
The Mavericks got to within 47-45 on baskets by Catlett and Reed, but Johnson III kick-started a 15-5 run with another three, setting up the wild final minutes.
UTSA forced 20 turnovers, 10 coming on steals, and out-rebounded the Mavericks, 34-28. Junior Stephen Franklin pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. UT Arlington shot 46 percent, including making 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) from downtown.
Gibson had four thefts in the first half to help force a dozen Mavericks turnovers, but UTSA was only able to convert those into five points. The Roadrunners shot just 29 percent in the first half, including making only 5-of-18 from downtown.
The Roadrunners built a 22-14 lead after Hill knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the circle, but UT Arlington, which shot 50 percent, closed the half on a 12-2 run and took a 26-24 lead into the locker room.
The Mavericks came out firing to start the second half, as Gay connected twice from long distance and Ingram drained another trey in the first four minutes to help push the lead to 37-28.
The Roadrunners will host Lamar (9-12, 3-4 SLC) in the annual Homecoming Game at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
