SAN ANTONIO – UTSA rallied from nine down in the final two minutes to take a one-point lead, but two final-second free throws by Luke Pluymen lifted St. Edward's to a 77-76 win on Wednesday evening.
St. Edward's, which connected on 12 3-pointers during the contest, was led offensively by Dorian Lopez and Ashton Spears with 12 points each, while August Haas added 10. Ten additional Hilltoppers scored in the game as SEU shot 38.5 percent overall and 34.3 percent from 3-point range.
Nick Allen and Keaton Wallace each finished with game-highs of 15 points to pace the Roadrunners (0-1). Giovanni De Nicolao totaled 13 points and Byron Frohnen 10 to round out the Birds in double-figures. Allen and De Nicolao each collected eight boards as UTSA outrebounded the visitors 48-40.
Leading 34-32 out of the break, St. Edward's went on a 14-8 run to open up an eight-point lead at 48-40 at the 17:16 mark. UTSA cut its deficit in half over the next five minutes as Wallace converted an and-1, Allen made his second three of the game and freshman Tamir Bynum collected his first collegiate points to outscored the Hilltoppers 8-4. However, UTSA's momentum was stymied as Ryan Garza and Dillon Young connected on SEU's ninth and 10th 3-pointers of the night to restore the visitor's lead to eight at 58-50 with 10 minutes to play.
Pluymen gave SEU its largest lead of the game at 61-52 as the freshman sank the Hilltoppers' 11th triple. But, again UTSA rallied to bring the game within a single possession with five minutes remaining. The 8-2 run featured two buckets inside by De Nicolao and one each by Wallace and Atem Bior, trimming the Roadrunners' deficit to 63-60.
The Roadrunners would go cold from the field over the next three minutes, missing seven consecutive shots as SEU built another nine-point lead with 2:28 to play. De Nicolao broke the Roadrunners' scoreless drought with a driving layup with 1:117 to go. De Nicolao was fouled on the play, but missed the ensuing free throw and the offensive rebound was kicked out to Wallace for a 3-pointer.
SEU would hold a three-point lead with less than 25 seconds to play before Wallace leveled the game at 73 with a triple from the left wing. Pluymen responded with two free throws to push SEU up two, but Allen would connected on a go-ahead 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 9.2 seconds to play, pushing the Roadrunners ahead 76-75.
UTSA forced a deflection on the defensive end of the floor, allowing SEU to set up and in-bound play from the baseline. Pluymen was fouled on the play and made both free throw attempts to send SEU to the 77-76 victory.
St. Edward's used six first-half threes, including two from Corey Shervill to take a 34-32 lead into the intermission. The Hilltoppers closed the half shooting 38.2 percent from the floor, while the Roadrunners connected on 43.8 percent of their attempts.
Up next
UTSA hosts the University of Oklahoma Sooners on Monday, Nov. 12. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationwide on CBS Sports Network. Limited tickets remain, contact the UTSA Athletics Ticket Office at 210-458-8872 or visit goUTSA.com/tickets to secure your seat.
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