SAN ANTONIO — Giovanni De Nicolao led five players in double figures with a career-high 14 points and UTSA remained undefeated at home with a 66-60 victory against Utah Valley on Wednesday night.
Byron Frohnen recorded his second double-double of the campaign with 10 points to go along with a career-best 12 rebounds to help pace a balanced attack for the Roadrunners (4-8). Meanwhile, Jeff Beverly and Gino Littles each added 11 points and Nick Billingsley came off the bench to contribute 10.
UTSA grabbed 47 rebounds, including 13 offensive boards, and it outscored the Wolverines (5-6) in the paint, 26-22.
Zach Nelson led Utah Valley, which was held to season lows for points and field goal shooting (31.7 percent), with 14 points and Jordan Poydras chipped in 12 points off the bench.
Both teams struggled early from the floor, but UTSA began to heat up while continuing its defensive pressure against Utah Valley. The Roadrunners got a boost from their bench as Lucas O'Brien came on to hit a 3-pointer and Billingsley converted a De Nicolao steal into a layup for a 19-11 lead.
De Nicolao knocked down a trey of his own before Littles took over with 10 points over the next four minutes to help push the advantage to 34-18.
The junior started his spurt with a 3-pointer before two strong drives to the basket that resulted in baskets. Following a jumper from Frohnen that just beat the shot clock, Littles punctuated a 9-0 UTSA run with another trey.
Conner Toolson ended a Wolverines drought with a triple of his own, but the Roadrunners took a 34-21 lead into halftime. The 21 points for Utah Valley was its fewest in the first half all season.
With 17:20 to play, Nick Allen knocked down a 17-foot jumper to give UTSA a 39-23 lead, which tied its largest of the night. However, the Wolverines rattled off a 15-0 run to pull within a point and set the stage for a tense, back-and-forth second half.
Frohnen's drive and reverse layup ended the run, but Utah Valley kept it close and again pulled within a point at 43-42 before the Roadrunners got some breathing room with a 7-0 spurt.
Frohnen started the stretch with an old-fashioned three-point play before De Nicolao banked in a shot while being fouled for an and-one of his own.
Minutes later, De Nicolao banked in a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired and the freshman hit another jumper with 4:20 to play that pushed the UTSA lead back to double digits at 58-47.
The Wolverines made one last push in the final minutes and got within 60-57 with 1:57 on the clock, but the Roadrunners hit six free throws down the stretch to seal the 66-60 victory and their fourth home victory in as many tries.
UTSA will close non-conference play at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29, when it hosts East Central (6-4) at the Convocation Center.
