RUSTON, La. — Keon Lewis scored a game-high 26 points, but Louisiana Tech went on a 10-0 run to thwart a late charge and defeat UTSA by a score of 76-66 on Saturday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Lewis hit a career-high four 3-pointers in the contest and scored 15 points in the second half to lead the Roadrunners (13-14, 7-9 C-USA), who dropped their fourth consecutive game. Jeromie Hill posted his eighth double-double of the season and the 18th of his career with 12 points and a dozen rebounds, while Ryan Bowie and Kaj-Björn Sherman reached double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
UTSA shot 42.6 percent for the game and held a 39-32 advantage on the glass.
Meanwhile, Erik McCree led five players in double figures for the league-leading Bulldogs (23-7, 14-3 C-USA), who claimed at least a share of the Conference USA title, with 16 points and seven rebounds. Alex Hamilton added 15 points, while Kenneth Smith chipped in with 12 points and seven assists.
Louisiana Tech shot 46 percent for the game and 51.6 percent in the second half.
Michale Kyser’s jumper with 13:35 to play extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 51-42 before the Roadrunners went on a 12-2 run to take the lead.
Hill had three baskets in the run, which also included treys from Bowie and Lewis. Hill’s offensive rebound and putback with 8:54 remaining gave the Roadrunners a 54-53 advantage.
However, Smith hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Louisiana Tech would not trail the rest of the way.
The 3-pointers started a 13-4 stretch for the home squad, but Lewis drilled a 3-pointer and Bowie scored inside to slice the Bulldogs’ lead to 66-63 with 3:40 on the clock.
That’s when Louisiana Tech put the game away with its 10-0 run, while it held UTSA without a basket for four minutes until Lewis’ 3-pointer with 12 seconds to play.
UTSA got off to a quick 4-0 lead on baskets by Sherman and Lewis before the Bulldogs could get on the board. Louisiana Tech knotted the score with back-to-back buckets, but Lewis kept the game close with the next five points for the visitors.
Christian Wilson buried a 3-pointer and Hill’s layup put the Roadrunners ahead 14-13 with 11:16 to play in the half.
However, the Bulldogs responded with a 14-2 run for a 27-16 lead and they did not trail the rest of the period.
Louisiana Tech led by as much as 12 points in the half, but Wilson hit another triple in the final minute to help trim the deficit to 34-25 at halftime.
UTSA will be back in action on Thursday, March 5, when it hosts Rice (10-17, 7-8 C-USA) at the Convocation Center.