Late UTSA rally falls short in 76-64 loss at Loyola (Chicago) on Friday nightLate UTSA rally falls short in 76-64 loss at Loyola (Chicago) on Friday night
Men's Basketball

Late UTSA rally falls short in 76-64 loss at Loyola (Chicago) on Friday night

CHICAGO, Ill. — UTSA used a 16-2 rally late in the second half to trim a 19-point deficit to five, but the visitors could get no closer and Loyola (Chicago) pulled away for a season-opening 76-64 victory on Friday night at Gentile Arena.

Ryan Bowie led the Roadrunners (0-1) with 16 points and the senior just missed out on a double-double with nine rebounds. J.R. Harris also reached double figures with 14 points for UTSA, which shot 43.1 percent for the night.

The Roadrunners scored 24 points off 21 turnovers and got 33 points from their bench.

Meanwhile, Milton Doyle led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting and Montel James added 14 points and seven boards for the Ramblers (1-0). Loyola shot 54.2 percent from the floor and totaled 19 assists on its 26 baskets.

Trailing by 11 to start the second half, UTSA came out with a 7-2 spurt to quickly pull within 41-35. Nick Allen, who became the first true freshman to start in his collegiate debut for the Roadrunners since Jeromie Hill in 2010, drove to the basket for a layup before Bowie scored inside. Gino Littles then finished off an old-fashioned three-point play with a fast break layup and free throw.

However, Doyle put a stop to the run with a triple and after the Roadrunners pulled within 45-37, Ben Richardson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to start a 14-3 Loyola run that extended the home advantage to 59-39.

The deficit sat at 63-44 with nine minutes remaining before the Roadrunners made another move with their 16-2 run.

A.J. Cockrell started the rally with a layup and five points from Nick Billingsley forced the Ramblers to call timeout. Out of the break, Bowie hit a 3-pointer before Cockrell and Harris picked up baskets inside to trim the deficit to 65-60 with 3:40 on the clock.

James and Doyle combined to score the final 11 points of the contest for Loyola as the Ramblers outscored UTSA 11-4 down the stretch to hold on for the 76-64 win.

The Roadrunners started just 1-of-7 from the floor and the Ramblers connected on eight of their first 14 shots to fuel the game-opening run. Loyola also forced eight turnovers during the stretch and would go on to score 22 points off 17 UTSA miscues in the half.

Donte Ingram’s 3-pointer capped the run and the Roadrunners press began to turn the tables on the Ramblers as they chipped away at the deficit.

Bowie’s first 3-pointer of the night started a 7-0 spurt that pulled UTSA to within 29-19 with six minutes to go in the half and Lucas O’Brien beat the shot clock buzzer with a triple for a 39-28 deficit at the half.

The UTSA press forced 10 Loyola turnovers in the period, including five in the final seven minutes, and it also helped slow the Ramblers offense after the torrid start.

UTSA will open play in the Men Who Speak Up Main Event with a 1 p.m. (CT) matchup on Sunday at Clemson (1-0).