SAN ANTONIO — Donte McGill scored a game-high 23 points to lead visiting FIU to a 72-56 win over UTSA on Thursday night in the Convocation Center.
Christian Wilson led three players in double figures with 12 points to go along with seven rebounds for the Roadrunners (4-15, 2-4 C-USA). Ryan Bowie added 11 points, while J.R. Harris finished with 10. UTSA shot 32.8 percent for the night and scored 24 points in the paint.
Meanwhile, McGill went 8-of-16 from the floor and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line to pace the Panthers (10-9, 4-2 C-USA), who shot 43.9 percent. Daviyon Draper added a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Both teams started slow on the offensive end and FIU slowly built a double-digit lead, 15-5, with an 8-0 spurt.
The Panthers advantage would grow to as much as 30-17 with 3:17 left in the half, but the Roadrunners warmed up to hit five of their final nine shots to trim the deficit to 30-25 at intermission with an 8-0 run of their own.
A Wilson free throw early in the second half cut the deficit to 32-28, however the Panthers were able to outscore UTSA 14-5 to start the final 20 minutes and the visitors led 44-30 with 14 minutes to play.
An old-fashioned three-point play by Harris and an offensive rebound and basket from O’Brien trimmed the FIU lead to 44-35 only to see Eric Nottage drain back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the lead back to double digits for good.
FIU answered each UTSA basket with one of their own and the Roadrunners could get no closer than 14 over the final 10 minutes.
UTSA will return to the court for a 2 p.m. home matchup against Florida Atlantic (4-15, 2-4 C-USA) on Saturday.