SAN ANTONIO — Sophomore Melvin Johnson III poured in a career-high 24 points to help lead UTSA to a 70-64 victory against Lamar on Saturday night in front of 3,066 fans at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners improved to 12-9 overall and 5-3 in the Southland Conference to stay in a first-place tie with Texas State in the West Division standings. The Cardinals fell to 9-13 (3-5 SLC).
Johnson III was 8-of-17 from the floor and 7-for-10 at the free-throw line in eclipsing his previous career best of 22 points recorded twice this season against San Jose State and UT Arlington. The Dallas native added five rebounds and a steal in 37 minutes of action.
He was joined in double figures by senior Devin Gibson, who registered 16 points, six assists and a pair of steals, and junior Sei Paye, who posted a career-high 11. Junior Stephen Franklin added nine points, his highest total since scoring 16 against Samford (Dec. 20), and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, freshman Jeromie Hill pulled down a game-best 11 boards to go along with seven points.
UTSA led 30-27 at the half and overcame a tough night shooting, 33.9 percent, to win for the fourth time in the last five meetings with Lamar.
Johnson III skied for a tip-in off a missed 3-pointer at the 11:12 mark to put the Roadrunners up six (46-40), but the Cardinals fought back to knot the score at 49 after a layup by Anthony Miles.
Lamar took a 58-55 lead after a jumper and a pair of free throws by Miles, but Gibson tied things up with a three-point play on the next possession. Johnson III was fouled after a steal and made both free throws to hand UTSA a two-point lead.
The Cardinals missed two shots from close range and Hill came up with the rebound after a scramble for the loose ball. He then found Gibson on the fast break, who dribbled behind his back between two defenders and dished to Paye in the corner. The Houston native drained a wide-open three to put the Roadrunners up 63-58 with 3:12 to play.
Lamar answered, as Coy Custer, who scored 11, converted a three-point play to make it 63-61 with 2:03 on the clock.
UTSA chose to run some clock and, with the shot clock winding down, Gibson stepped to the right elbow and knocked down a jumper to put the Roadrunners back on top by four with 1:11 to go.
Miles misfired on a mid-range jumper and Paye came up with the board. He quickly was fouled and made both freebies to give UTSA a 67-61 cushion with 52 ticks remaining.
Kendrick Harris could not connect from the top of the circle and Franklin came up with the big defensive rebound with 30.7 seconds on the clock. Hill was fouled after a timeout and made one of two from the charity stripe to ice the game for the Roadrunners.
Donley Minor led Lamar with a career-high 17 points behind a 5-for-11 night from downtown, while Miles contributed 13 for the Cardinals, who shot 40 percent and made 9-of-29 from beyond the arc.
UTSA committed a season-low seven turnovers and was 25-for-34 (73.5%) from the free-throw line.
The Roadrunners built a nine-point lead midway through the first half after a trey from the corner by Paye and a free throw from Franklin. Freshman Ryan Whitehead drove for a basket at the 5:49 mark to put UTSA up six, but that would be the last field goal of the half for the Roadrunners, who missed their final eight shots.
UTSA travels to Hammond, La., to face Southeastern Louisiana (10-10, 4-4 SLC) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9.
