SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA men’s basketball team (4-12, 0-4 AMER) is closing out the three-game homestand with a familiar foe in the Convocation Center on Wednesday. For Salute to Armed Forces presented by USAA, the Roadrunners will host Rice (7-10, 1-3 AMER) for a 7 p.m. tipoff that’s set to broadcast on ESPN+.
Ticket Information
Single Game Tickets
Direct Link: Rice Tickets
Adults: $15
Juniors (ages 3-18): $13
Seniors (ages 65+): $13
Military (with ID): $13
UTSA Students: Free Admission with UTSA ID, download tickets at goUTSA.com/studentlogin.
Salute to Armed Forces
Presented by USAA, UTSA Athletics is recognizing the heroes of the United States Armed Forces right here in Military City, USA. There will be recognitions throughout the game, Recruiting Station San Antonio Executive Officer Captain Kameron Gaskin will present the game ball and there will be a swearing-in ceremony at halftime. Fans can receive a USAA x UTSA foam finger as well as multiple opportunities to participate in fan competitions at timeouts.
Bring Home the W with Whataburger
The first 800 fans at Wednesday’s game will receive a coupon for a free Whataburger honey butter chicken biscuit.
On the Air and on the Web
Wednesday’s 7 p.m. tipoff with the Owls at the Convocation Center will be streamed on ESPN+, with Alex Loeb (play-by-play), San Antonio and UTSA Hall-of-Famer Devin Brown (analyst) and former UTSA women’s basketball star Carlie Heineman (reporter) on the call.
The radio broadcast will appear on Sports Radio AM 760 The Ticket with Andy Everett (play-by-play) and former coach Tim Carter (analyst) covering the action live from the Convo. The broadcast will feature a 30-minute pregame and 15-minute postgame show – available online at Ticket760.com or via the free iHeartRadio app.
UTSA Athletics will also provide Live Stats.
About the UTSA Roadrunners
The Roadrunners are looking to earn their third consecutive series win in the 27th edition of the Rice series after sweeping the Owls last season – breaking a losing skid before heading out on Sunday to face defending champion Memphis on the road.
The Roadrunners average 69.3 ppg on 38.2 percent field goal shooting, holding the opposition to 42.4 percent shooting from the field and 32.9 percent from three. Ranking 94th nationally, UTSA grabs 38.3 rpg, including an NCAA-83rd 12.6 rpg on the offensive glass. UTSA also ranks 104th in blocks per game (3.9) and 103rd in fast break points per game (12.9).
Stepping more into the spotlight in American Conference play, redshirt junior Austin Nunez is averaging a team-best 15.5 ppg in American Conference games, adding 1.5 rpg, 2.3 apg and 1.0 spg against league opposition. He’s averaging 9.5 ppg with a team-high 37 assists on the year. Steady with double-figures in 15-of-16 games for the Roadrunners, graduate student Jamir Simpson puts up 16.6 ppg, while also collecting 4.4 rpg, 1.9 apg and 1.1 spg. Freshman Dorian Hayes also averages 7.9 ppg and is second behind only Simpson from behind the arc with 33 triples. Leading UTSA with a 5.9 rpg effort, freshman Kaidon Rayfield also puts away 7.5 ppg.
About the Rice Owls
The Owls have opened at 7-10 in the second season under Rob Lanier, missing two opportunities in the final three seconds to fall to Charlotte on Saturday at home, 74-73. However, last Wednesday, Rice picked up its first conference win of the season, edging out Wichita State on the road, 66-64. Three of the four conference games have been decided by two possessions or less. The Owls average 73.4 ppg on 43.8 percent shooting, playing a lower tempo and scoring the bulk of their points inside the arc and at the line. Defensively, the Owls surrender 73.5 ppg on 43.8 percent shooting, hitting the offensive glass hard at a 35th-ranked 13.7 offensive rpg toward their 98th-ranked 38.2 total rpg.
Pacing Rice, second-year grad guard Trae Broadnax and transfer guard Nick Anderson are tag-teaming the opposition with 14.5 and 14.0 ppg, respectively – the pair shooting a combined 84.6 percent at the line for 42 percent of Rice’s free throw scoring. Broadnax also grabs a team-best 4.9 rpg and leads the Owls with 2.7 apg and 1.4 spg. Anderson has 3.6 rpg along with a team-best 40 three-pointers. The third guard, senior Jalen Smith is back after redshirting last season, averaging 10.9 ppg with 3.2 rpg, adding 2.4 apg and putting away 35 triples.
Series History
After sweeping the Owls last season and winning three of the last four, UTSA leads the series 15-11, dating back to the opening game in 1982. Last season, UTSA held off the Owls late in Houston in January at Tudor Fieldhouse, then heavily outpaced Rice in the second half of last year’s Senior Day matchup for the 84-56 victory. Last season, the duo of Primo Spears and Smurf Millender combined for 101 points across the two outings against the Owls. UTSA is 8-3 at home against Rice in the series.
Up Next
UTSA closes the week with a Sunday nationally televised road matchup at defending American Champion Memphis at FedEx Forum, heading directly to Denton, Texas, for a Wednesday rematch with North Texas at the Super Pit.
- UTSA -