SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA men’s basketball team (1-3) opened the Trojan Turkey Tipoff with a loss on Monday at Trojan Arena, falling behind the hosting Troy Trojans (4-2) in the back end of the first half. Despite a strong effort with matched scoring in the second half, the Roadrunners suffered their third straight loss. UTSA will remain in Troy and face the Merrimack Warriors (1-5) on Wednesday at Trojan Arena.
Setting up a big game for the senior transfer guard, Primo Spears got the Roadrunners started with a steal and score just over 20 seconds into Monday’s tournament contest. Fittingly, graduate transfer guard Damari Monsanto splashed the first of a bevy of threes just 80 seconds later, helping the Roadrunners take a lead that would hold through the first five minutes.
The Roadrunners double-teamed the Trojans with Spears and Monsanto dealing out key shots throughout the first half, combining for 17 of UTSA’s 27 first-half shots, and scoring 22 of UTSA’s 29 points in the opening period. Across the final 10 minutes of the period, UTSA’s scoring stalled, despite topping out at 58.3 percent shooting through the first 10 minutes. The Trojans went on a 9-1 run to create some space and held off the Roadrunners to a 42-29 advantage at the half. Contributing to the slump, UTSA logged 14 first-half turnovers, while only capturing seven off Troy.
Resilient out of the break, UTSA traded scores with the Trojans throughout the second half, mostly from long range. Raekwon Horton stuck to the offensive glass, then grabbed a steal to feed Spears on a fast break to cut the deficit to seven just over five minutes in. After weathering the Trojans reaching their biggest lead, UTSA fought back in the final 10 minutes, bringing the divide back to 10 on Marcus Millender’s steal and fast-break dish to Horton for the finish with five minutes remaining. The Trojans made the most of threes down the stretch and held off the Roadrunners to an 86-72 final.
Typically one of the most active free throw shooting squads in the country, averaging 20 per game, UTSA didn’t get a lot of chances on the night, only stepping to the line 13 times – while converting on 11 attempts (84.6 percent). The Roadrunners only trailed Troy 44-43 in second-half scoring and committed just six second-half turnovers.
Pacing the Roadrunners on their first outing in Alabama, Spears hit 20 points for his fourth game in as many tries to reach the stat. He also delivered four assists with two steals. Monsanto came alive from the perimeter on Monday night, hitting a season-high six from long range to secure 19 points. Horton finished with a 10-point, 10-board effort for his first UTSA double-double, as the Roadrunners outrebounded the Trojans 28-27.
WHAT'S NEXT
Competition continues in Troy for the Roadrunners at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 27, facing off with Merrimack at Trojan Arena. The Warriors took on in-state foe UMASS-Lowell with an 84-71 loss tonight before heading to Alabama – suffering their fifth consecutive setback
- UTSA -