SAN ANTONIO — Lucas O’Brien tied a career high with 12 points to lead five players in double figures as UTSA defeated East Central, 75-61, on Wednesday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
O’Brien went 5-of-7 from the floor and the senior pulled down seven rebounds for the Roadrunners (2-9), who snapped a six-game skid. Gino Littles added 12 points and five boards, while Christian Wilson came off the bench to score 12 points and dish out five assists. Ryan Bowie and George Matthews chipped in 10 points apiece.
UTSA shot 45.2 percent in the contest and the squad pulled down a season-high 46 rebounds. The Roadrunners forced 21 turnovers and got 39 points from its bench.
Meanwhile, Braxton Reeves paced the Tigers (5-3), who were held to 40.7 percent shooting, with 12 points and Ishmael Donzo added 10 points. The contest counted as an exhibition for East Central, a Division II school from Ada, Okla.
UTSA started cold from the field as it missed eight of its first 10 shots and East Central built a 19-11 lead.
However, the Roadrunners began to heat up midway through the half and they rattled off a 20-4 run to grab a 31-23 lead.
Wilson started the spurt with an old-fashioned three-point play and the sophomore would add three more free throws. After a pair of East Central freebies, Littles drained a 3-pointer and set up a J.R. Harris layup with a steal and assist to give the team its first advantage at 22-21.
A steal by Wilson led to a layup and Littles’ followed a pair of Harris free throws with another trey to cap the run.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Harris and Bowie extended the cushion to double digits, 37-27, and UTSA took a 39-29 advantage to halftime.
Bowie, O’Brien and Nick Allen each scored inside to start the second half to help the Roadrunners extend their lead to 45-29.
Minutes later, Matthews hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a 56-38 lead and the home squad enjoyed its largest advantage of the day, 60-41, following another jumper by the senior.
East Central made a run late in the contest, but the Roadrunners never let the lead dip below 10. Wilson found A.J. Cockrell for a bucket inside and Littles polished off the 75-61 win with a pair of free throws.
UTSA will be back in action at 5 p.m. on Saturday when it hosts Utah Valley (4-6).