SAN ANTONIO — Keon Lewis and Jeromie Hill combined for 60 points and UTSA ran past Southeastern Oklahoma State, 101-80, in an exhibition game on Thursday night at the Convocation Center.
Lewis poured in 20 of his team-high 31 points in the first half, while Hill scored 20 of his 29 after intermission to help the Roadrunners improve to 9-0 all-time in exhibitions under ninth-year head coach Brooks Thompson.
UTSA held a slim 40-39 edge at halftime, but the Roadrunners outscored the Savage Storm by a score of 61-41 in the second half en route to their highest-scoring output in an exhibition in the Thompson era.
Hill knocked down five of his team-high six 3-pointers after halftime and UTSA was 10-of-17 from downtown in the final 20 minutes and 14-of-31 overall. The Birds shot 52.9 percent (37-of-70) from the field — 60.5 percent in the second half — and registered a 40-31 edge on the boards, including 15 on the offensive glass that led to 23 second-chance points.
Hill drilled a pair from long distance to open the second stanza and Ryan Bowie, who added 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds, had a pair of layups three minutes later to help stake UTSA to a 58-51 lead.
The home side made five of its first six and seven of its first nine attempts from downtown — five by Hill — in pushing the advantage to double digits midway through the frame.
The lead grew to 19 after Lucas O’Brien hit a trey with 4:30 remaining to make it 92-73 and UTSA cruised to the 21-point victory.
Darius Harris led Southeastern Oklahoma State with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and seven rebounds. Danny Powell (14), Quinton Threadgill (11) and Anton Cook (10) also scored in double figures for the Savage Storm.
Lewis scored the first nine points for the Roadrunners and eventually poured in 18 of UTSA’s first 29 to help build a six-point lead with just under eight minutes left in the first half.
The Seattle native put up 20 in the half on 7-of-10 shooting to help the Roadurnners to a 40-39 edge at the break.
UTSA forced nine turnovers, six on steals, in the first half and converted those into 10 points, but the Savage Storm drilled six 3-pointers to help off set the miscues and keep it within one possession at the break.
The Roadrunners will open their regular season next Friday, Nov. 14, against Huston-Tillotson. Tip-off in the first of five home games to open the campaign is slated for 7 p.m.