SAN ANTONIO — Christian Wilson poured in a career-high 23 points off the bench to help UTSA build a 21-point second-half lead and hold off Rice, 85-80, on Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
Wilson went 8-of-10 from the floor and added five rebounds, three steals and an assist for the Roadrunners (3-12, 1-1 C-USA), who picked up their first Conference USA victory of the season and snapped a three-game losing streak. Ryan Bowie added 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Gino Littles (14 points) and J.R. Harris (13 points) also reached double figures.
UTSA shot a season-high 55.8 percent (29-of-52) in the contest and held a 36-29 rebounding edge. In addition, the home squad totaled 25 points off 11 turnovers.
Meanwhile, C-USA scoring leader Marcus Evans paced the Owls (5-10, 0-2 C-USA) with 23 points (9-of-20) and six rebounds and Egor Koulechov chipped in with 14 points.
The Roadrunners used an early 8-0 run to take the lead following a pair of baskets from Andrew Drone and UTSA would not trail again the rest of the afternoon.
The early run was highlighted by a four-point play from Bowie, who was fouled while connecting on the first of his three 3-pointers. Lucas O’Brien and Harris contributed baskets during the run, which put the Roadrunners up 11-4.
UTSA stayed hot from the floor and slowly built its lead with five straight baskets near the end of the first half. Harris started the string of makes with an old-fashioned three-point play and the junior would add another layup. Wilson contributed a pair of baskets and free throws, while Littles had a layup and a pair of freebies to help the Roadrunners to a 39-28 cushion, which was their largest of the period.
The home squad took a 41-33 advantage to halftime and after an Andrew Drone three-point play to open the second half, UTSA again pushed the lead to double digits with an 11-1 stretch that resulted in a 52-37 score.
Littles started the run with a basket in the paint before Bowie found Harris for a 3-pointer. Bowie then drained a jumper and Harris returned the favor with an assist on a fastbreak that ended with a layup for the senior. Wilson then capped the run with a jumper of his own.
Minutes later, a 12-1 spurt that included another Bowie trey and two baskets by Wilson gave UTSA a 73-52 advantage, its largest of the season.
However, the Owls would not go away and the visitors outscored the Roadrunners 26-7 over the next six-and-a-half minutes to slice the UTSA lead all the way down to a basket, 80-78, with just 1:28 to play.
Wilson drove in for a layup to regain a two-possession cushion and the sophomore would add a pair of free throws with nine seconds on the clock and the Roadrunners took the 85-80 final following another freebie from Littles.
UTSA will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7 at preseason C-USA favorite UAB (11-3, 1-0 C-USA).