BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Keon Lewis scored a game-high 24 points, but WKU used a late 10-3 run to thwart UTSA’s comeback in an 83-74 victory on Saturday afternoon at E.A. Diddle Arena.
Lewis went 9-of-17 from the floor, including a triple, and five free throws en route to his highest point total since scoring 28 in the season opener. Jeromie Hill added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Roadrunners (9-9, 3-4 C-USA), while Ryan Bowie and Kaj-Björn Sherman reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
UTSA shot 44.7 percent in the second half as it chipped away at a halftime deficit and it held a 42-36 rebounding edge.
Meanwhile, Chris Harrison-Docks paced the Hilltoppers (14-5, 7-0 C-USA) with 20 points and George Fant added a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds. WKU connected on 12 3-pointers and shot 48.1 percent in the contest.
Facing an 11-point deficit at intermission, the Roadrunners hit eight of their first 11 shots in the second half to pull within 55-52 with 14:12 to play.
Lewis got the momentum rolling in UTSA’s favor with a steal and layup on WKU’s first possession of the period. The Roadrunners were able to break the Hilltoppers’ press and attack the basket for six layups during the stretch.
UTSA was able to cut the WKU lead to three on four occasions in the period, but could not get closer.
Sherman’s basket with 10:05 to play trimmed the deficit to 61-58 only to see the Hilltoppers score the next seven points for some breathing room. Minutes later, the senior found Bowie inside for a basket that sliced the WKU lead to 68-65.
However, the Hilltoppers responded with a 10-3 run for a 78-68 cushion with just two minutes to go and the lead would not dip below five the rest of the way as WKU closed out the 83-74 final.
Both teams started slow from the field in the early minutes of the first half, which featured six ties and six lead changes.
Hill got the Roadrunners moving with the team’s first eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers to move up the school’s all-time triples list. His second trey knotted the score at 8, while Christian Wilson’s 3-pointer with 12 minutes to go in the half gave the visitors a 13-10 lead.
In all, four of the team’s first six baskets came from behind the arc, including a 3-pointer from Lewis that again tied the score, 20-20.
Bowie hit back-to-back treys before a 17-footer from Lewis pulled UTSA within a point, 31-30. However, the Hilltoppers picked up a double-digit lead with their 14-1 run toward the end of the first half.
When the dust had settled, WKU had its largest cushion of the contest, 45-31, but Gino Littles’ offensive rebound and basket helped cut the deficit to 45-34 at the half.
UTSA will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29 when it hosts Middle Tennessee (11-8, 4-2 C-USA) at the Convocation Center. The game will be broadcast on the American Sports Network, with Dave Barnett (play-by-play) and Ben Braun (analysis) calling the action.