HOUSTON – The UTSA men’s basketball team (1-3) wraps up a four-game road swing on Monday, taking on Houston Christian (0-2) at Frank and Lucille Sharp Gymnasium. The Roadrunners are aiming to swing one back into the win column heading into Thanksgiving and snap a three-game road losing skid. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the radio call is scheduled for Sports Radio AM 760 The Ticket, with live video streaming on ESPN+.
On the Air and the Web
Monday’s non-conference contest will tip at 7 p.m. at Sharp Gym and will air live on Sports Radio AM 760 The Ticket with Andy Everett doing play-by-play, a 30-minute pregame and 15-minute postgame show. Not near a radio? The broadcast will be available online at Ticket760.com or via the free iHeartRadio app.
To watch the game live, ESPN+ subscribers can catch the Roadrunners on the streaming platform. Garrett Jones (play-by-play) and Van Chancellor (color) will be on the call.
HCU Athletics will also provide LIVE STATS from Sharp Gym.
Last Time Out
‣ Friday’s defensive battle at Texas State didn’t work out to UTSA’s favor, as the Roadrunners were held to 31.7 percent shooting, while the Bobcats saw a strong second half reach 42 percent for the game.
‣ Largely a game within two possessions much of the way, the Bobcats began to separate as frontcourt fouls accumulated and two UTSA starters fouled out with seven minutes to go.
‣ UTSA racked up a season-high 29 fouls and both Trey Edmonds and Carlton Linguard Jr. fouled out – while Massal Diouf played the closing moments with four.
‣ There were four lead changes and five ties in Friday’s contest.
‣ A one-point Texas State advantage at 8:52 swelled to an 11-point lead at 2:31 as the Bobcats capitalized on the size mismatch down the stretch.
‣ Typically strong at protecting the ball, UTSA allowed seven turnovers in the first eight minutes, reigning it in to finish with a season-high 13. The Roadrunners still rank 57th nationally and third in the conference with 10.0 turnovers per game.
‣ Junior guard Christian Tucker was the leading scorer for the second time this season, putting up 16 points, including a clean 7-of-7 performance at the line.
‣ On the season, Tucker is 21-of-24 at the free throw line, an .875 free throw percentage. He ties for the most made free throws in the AAC, 47th nationally and ranks 147th in shooting percentage.
‣ Over two games last week, Tucker delivered nine assists to bring his season total to 22 – the most in the American Athletic Conference and 27th-most in the NCAA. With only four turnovers on the year, Tucker ranks 27th nationally and fourth in the AAC with a 5.50 assist-to-turnover ratio.
‣ Dre Fuller Jr. also scored 13 points against the Bobcats, shooting .500 and grabbing four rebounds.
‣ Chandler Cuthrell led the team with 10 rebounds, coming up just shy of a double-double with nine points.
Series with Houston Christian
The Roadrunners and Huskies have been playing since UTSA’s inaugural season in 1981-82 and are playing the 11th meeting between these teams in the all-time series. Monday’s game is for the all-time advantage, as the series is split 5-5 right now.
‣ UTSA leads 3-2 when played in Houston and has won five of the last six, including the last two – the only series games this century.
‣ Series last played Nov. 26, 2018 in Houston with an 86-82 UTSA win.
‣ The last loss in the series was March 3, 1989 with an 88-84 HCU win.
‣ The last series loss in Houston was Jan. 3, 1987 with a 95-85 HCU win.
‣ These teams played six times as conference mates when both were members of the Trans
America Athletic Conference, prior to UTSA’s move to the Southland Conference in 1991-92.
Scouting Houston Christian
‣ HCU coach Ron Cottrell is in his 33rd season leading the Huskies, coming into Monday’s game with a 517-494 (.511) record.
‣ Houston Christian is 0-2 on the season after losses to BYU (63-100) and FIU (74-83).
‣ Last taking the court on Nov. 15 against FIU, the Huskies are only playing their third game of the year and scheduled no exhibitions.
‣ Sophomore guard Pierce Bazil scored 16 points against FIU and is averaging 12.5 ppg on 38.5 percent shooting, also grabbing 5.0 rpg.
‣ Junior guard Bruce Carpenter also had 15 points with three assists against the Panthers, averaging 8.0 ppg and 50 percent shooting.
‣ Junior guard Marcus Greene leads for team scoring average at 13.5 ppg, shooting 57.1 percent from the field and .500 from three in his first season out of Panola College.
‣ Leading on the glass, senior center Bonke Maring has 6.5 rpg while also scoring 7.0 ppg.
‣ The Huskies were 10-22 last season with an 8-8 record at home.
Up Next
Coming out of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Roadrunners are back home in the confines of the Convocation Center for the first time since the season opening win over Western Illinois on Nov. 6. UTSA will host the Roadrunner/Cardinal Classic on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24-25, taking matchups against Jacksonville State (Nov. 24, 12 p.m.) and UIW (Nov. 25, 3 p.m.).
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