SAN ANTONIO — R.J. Hunter hit 12 3-pointers and scored a career-high 41 points to lead Georgia State to a 99-68 win over UTSA on Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
Jordan Sims led the Roadrunners (3-8) with a season-high 17 points and six rebounds, while James Williams came off the bench to add a season-best 16 points on the strength of five 3-pointers. Edrico McGregor also hit double figures with 10 points to go along with five boards.
UTSA shot 44 percent in the contest and held a 31-24 edge on the glass. The Roadrunners hit a season-high 11 3-pointers and registered 16 assists, led by seven from Hyjii Thomas, on 22 baskets.
Meanwhile, Hunter went 14-of-21 from the floor and 12-of-19 from behind the arc to go along with three blocks for the Panthers (6-6). Manny Atkins added 20 points and eight rebounds, while Ryan Harrow tallied 19 points and eight assists.
Georgia State shot 55.6 percent for the game and went 19-of-32 (59.4 percent) from downtown. The Panthers scored 37 points off of 17 UTSA turnovers and held a 22-18 edge in the paint.
Devon Agusi gave the Roadrunners a quick 2-0 lead with a long jumper on the squad’s first possession. Following back-to-back buckets for the Panthers, Thomas connected on a 3-pointer and a pair of McGregor free throws gave UTSA a 7-4 lead.
However, a dunk and 3-pointer from Atkins ignited an 18-0 Georgia State run that allowed the Panthers to take the lead for good.
Hunter fueled the run with three of his five first-half 3-pointers and Markus Crider capped the spurt with a jumper for a 22-7 lead.
Sims closed the spurt with a trey of his own and another triple with nine minutes to go in the half pulled the Roadrunners within 27-15.
Williams helped slow the Georgia State momentum with a pair of 3-pointers, but Hunter ended the stanza with a trey to give the Panthers a 46-28 lead at intermission.
The Panthers lead jumped up to 69-39 with 14:26 to play before the Roadrunners cut into the deficit with a 15-2 run.
Kaj-Björn Sherman opened the stretch with an old-fashioned three-point play and scored all seven of his points during the run. Sims hit a triple and Williams answered Georgia State’s lone basket with back-to-back 3-pointers to force the visitors to use a timeout.
Thomas found Tyler Wood inside for a layup to cap the run, which pulled the Roadrunners within 71-54 with 8:54 remaining.
But Atkins ended the spurt with a 3-pointer and the Georgia State lead did not dip below 18 the rest of the way.
The Roadrunners return to the court for a 2 p.m. matchup with Cameron (5-5) on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at the Convocation Center.