by Kevin Farrell
SAN ANTONIO — On Wednesday night, the UTSA men’s basketball team kept its hopes alive for one of eight spots in the State Farm Southland Conference Tournament by defeating I-37 rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 71-62. The Roadrunners, 7-6 in the league, moved into a four-way tie for fifth place with Nicholls, Sam Houston State and UT Arlington, two games behind co-leaders McNeese State and Texas State (9-4).
One of the main reasons UTSA finds itself in the thick of one of the tightest conference races in recent memory has been the leadership and winning desire displayed by senior point guard Devin Gibson.
The Houston native posted 17 points, four rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists in logging 38 minutes to help guide UTSA to its third win in the past four meetings with the Islanders. Feeding off the energy and experience he brings to the court every night, the team and coaching staff have full confidence in him as they enter the final three games of the regular season.
“Devin understands he’s our floor leader and our point guard,” fifth-year head coach Brooks Thompson said after UTSA completed its first-ever season sweep of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. “He understands that he will have to bare a lot of pressure at the end of games, and that’s what good point guards do. He’s been a fantastic player for us and he’ll just continue to get better.”
Gibson is the Roadrunners’ most dynamic weapon, as he regularly fills up the stat sheet each night.
The three-time all-conference performer is the only player in the nation currently averaging at least 15 points (16.2), five rebounds (5.2), five assists (5.6) and 2.5 steals (2.8) per game. With a full complement of skills that allow him to penetrate opposing defense and dish the basketball, pull up for a jumper or draw a foul, Gibson is a threat everywhere on the court.
The second meeting of the season with I-35 rival Texas State looms large on Saturday in San Marcos and Gibson views that as another opportunity to help the team move up in the league standings.
“I’m just focusing on one game at a time,” Gibson said. “Texas State swept us last year and now we have an opportunity to get them back, so hopefully we can return the favor. We know it’s tough to win on the road in this league and we haven’t won up there since I was a freshman, but we do have confidence in our ability to get the job done. Texas State has a good team and they’ve been playing well lately, so we have to execute the game plan and focus for all 40 minutes if we want to be successful.”
Not only has Devin Gibson made a lasting impression within the program, he also has assumed the role of the team’s mentor.
Being the lone senior on the team, Gibson takes his years of experience and educates freshman point guard Ryan Whitehead, so that he will be finely tuned when it comes time to make his appearance as a starter.
“I talk to Ryan everyday about how to play the game,” Gibson said. “I’ve tried to show him everything that I’ve learned over the years so he can step in next season where I’m leaving off. So far, I think he’s doing a pretty good job.”
Gibson has had an outstanding career at UTSA and, with the final stretch of the season approaching, the star point guard looks on to bigger and better things but not before taking care of some unfinished business in San Marcos.
