SAN ANTONIO – UTSA men's basketball will host Southeastern Oklahoma State in its final preseason tune-up on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The exhibition contest, which will be free of charge courtesy of UTSA Athletics, is slated for a 7 p.m. tip at the Convocation Center.
Game overview
UTSA plays its second 2017-18 exhibition contest with a Tuesday evening game against Southeastern Oklahoma State. The game will tip at 7 p.m. CT at the Convocation Center in San Antonio. UTSA (0-0), which went 14-19 last season (8-10 C-USA; ninth place), is starting its second season under head coach Steve Henson. Southeastern Oklahoma State (0-0) is coming off of an 12-16 season under Kelly Green (seventh year). Tuesday's contest will air on the Roadrunners Sports Network (Ticket 760 AM in San Antonio) and will stream live on CUSA.tv with Andy Everett providing play-by-play.
Series history vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State
UTSA and Southeastern Oklahoma State have met once in the regular season with UTSA claiming an 88-69 win on Dec. 10 last season in San Antonio.
Last time out
UTSA played at Sam Houston State on Sunday in an exhibition game to benefit the Greater Houston Community Fund's hurricane relief efforts. The Roadrunners used a 31-8 second-half run to erase a four-point deficit and balloon its lead to as many as 19 on their way to an 89-76 win.
Freshman Keaton Wallace led all scorers with 22 points on 6-of-7 from deep and 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. Joining Wallace in double-figures was sophomore Giovanni De Nicolao with 14, junior college transfer Deon Lyle with 11 and freshman Jhivvan Jackson with 10. De Nicolao also dished out six assists, while sophomore George Willborn III led the Roadrunners on the glass with seven boards.
UTSA, which shot just 39.3 percent and averaged 66.0 points per game a year ago, closed the exhibition shooting 50.0 percent (30-of-60) from the floor, including 51.7 percent (15-of-29) from beyond the arc. UTSA controlled the rebounding battle 37-33, while also outscoring the Bearkats 28-20 in the paint.
Newcomers make big splash in first exhibition
UTSA newcomers Keaton Wallace (22 points), Deon Lyle (11 points), Jhivvan Jackson (10) and Adrian Rodriguez (9 points) accounted for 52 of the Roadrunners' 89 points in the win at Sam Houston State. Wallace, a freshman, was 6-of-7 from three, including making his first four attempts. Lyle, a junior transfer from Cloud County JC, and Jackson, a freshman, each knocked down three 3-pointers, while Rodriguez, a freshman, scored three buckets inside. In addition to their shooting from the field, the quartet combined to go 10-of-13 at the free-throw line.
Second season of the Steve Henson era
The 2017-18 season marks the second season of the Steven Henson era at UTSA. Henson, who came to UTSA from Lon Kruger's staff at Oklahoma, guided the Roadrunners to a 14-19 overall mark in his first season at the helm. Under Henson's tutelage, UTSA posted an 11-3 home record, won a program-best eight Conference USA contests and picked up UTSA's first Conference USA tournament win. Moreover, Henson led the Birds to improvement in 16 NCAA statistical categories along with an 83-position climb in RPI.
Up Next
UTSA officially opens the 2017-18 season on Sunday, Nov. 12 against East Central at the Convocation Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tickets start at $8 and can be purchased HERE.
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