NASSAU, The Bahamas – UTSA was unable to overcome first-half shooting woes as Coastal Carolina pulled away late for an 83-69 victory in both teams' Island of the Bahamas Showcase opener on Friday.
After trailing by 11 through 20 minutes of play, the Roadrunner four times trimmed the Coastal Carolina lead to two-possessions, but each time the Chanticleers answered with a scoring burst to push the lead back to double-digits.
UTSA last cut its deficit to six points at 75-69 with 1:38 to go. However, on the ensuing possession Coastal's Jalen Shaw sank a 3-pointer with the shot clock expiring to re-establish a seven-point lead and CCU closed the game out with five free throws in the final minute.
Roadrunners freshman Jhivvan Jackson led all scorers with his 19 points on his six makes, including two 3-pointers. Giovanni De Nicolao added 15 on 4 of 10 shooting and Nick Allen reach double-figures with 13, including a two-handed slam. The Roadrunners shot 46 percent in the second half after making only 28 percent in the first to close the game at a 36.2 (25 of 69 clip).
Coastal Carolina was paced by Jalen Shaw, Artur Labinowicz and Zac Cuthbertson with 14 points apiece. The Chanticleers shot 42 percent (25 of 60) for the contest and outrebounded UTSA 45-40.
Coastal Carolina led 49-38 four minutes into the second half before Jackson brought the Roadrunners with six (51-45) with 7-2 run of his own. The Chanticleers answered by stretching their advantage back out to 58-57, but again UTSA made it a two-possession game at 63-57 on two De Nicolao free throws at the 7:44 mark.
However, Coastal immediately re-established its lead back to double-figures with an 8-3 spurt led by six from Labinowicz for a 71-60 advantage. UTSA got no closer than six the rest of the way.
UTSA and Coastal Carolina exchanged the game's first 22 points, but the Chanticleers created separation on the scoreboard with a 15-6 run for a 26-17 lead at the 6:31 mark of the opening half. UTSA slowed the Coastal momentum with a bucket by Allen and a Jackson three ball; however, a 6-0 run by the Chants pushed the UTSA deficit to double-digits at 33-22. Each team made two three – Deon Lyle contributed both of the Roadrunners' on back-to-back possessions – and two free throws the rest of the period, sending the game into the intermission with CCU leading 41-30.
Up next
UTSA plays its second of three games at the Island of the Bahamas Showcase on Sat., Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. CT against Bradley. UTSA wraps up its stay at the tournament against a to be determined team on Nov. 19.
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