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Karen Aston’s Roadrunners to play the SMU Mustangs in Dallas

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Karen Aston. UTSA beat Charlotte 81-80 in double overtime in American Athletic Conference women's basketball on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Coach Karen Aston will lead the UTSA Roadrunners into Dallas today to face the SMU Mustangs. UTSA is 10-8 on the season and 4-3 in the American Athletic Conference. – File photo by Joe Alexander.

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Karen Aston appreciates the progress her team is making. Every time her UTSA Roadrunners play well and win, she talks about how proud she is of her players for making it happen. At the same time, the coach isn’t content. Not by any means.

She wants more. Locked in a tie for sixth place in the American Athletic Conference standings and coming off a one-point loss, the Roadrunners will try to regain the momentum today when they play on the road against the SMU Mustangs.

At the turn of the new calendar year, the Roadrunners hit their stride. They knocked off Wichita State, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte and South Florida in succession.

Charlotte was undefeated in conference when UTSA registered an 81-80 victory in double overtime. South Florida came to San Antonio with the best program in the AAC over the last decade and it, too, went down to defeat.

The Roadrunners crushed the defending AAC regular-season champs, 65-42.

Last weekend, UTSA nearly made it five wins in a row. The Roadrunners traveled to Alabama and led most of the way against the UAB Blazers, only to give up the lead in the fourth quarter. UAB nipped UTSA, 54-53.

As a result, UTSA will hit the court today at Moody Coliseum, hoping to make strides in the other direction. With the Mustangs, the Roadrunners will face a team that is probably better than its record would indicate.

In their last two games, the Mustangs have displayed competitive fire. A week ago today, they traveled to face the East Carolina Pirates, an NCAA tournament team last year and this year’s conference favorite in the preseason poll.

The Pirates, who pounded the Roadrunners by 28 on Jan. 2, struggled against the Mustangs. Eventually, the Mustangs fell 68-61 even though they had neutralized most of the Pirates’ best scoring threats.

On Wednesday night, the contending Temple Owls tipped off against the Mustangs in Dallas. Temple was a team that out-muscled and out-played UTSA at Philadelphia. The Mustangs took care of the Wildcats, 68-66.

Records

AAC women’s basketball:
UTSA 10-8, 4-3; SMU 9-10, 3-5

Notable

The UTSA men are also on the road today. Steve Henson’s Roadrunners, coming off an 89-88 victory at home over the Tulane Green Wave, will be in Tampa, Fla.

They’ll tip off at 3 p.m. against the South Florida Bulls. Within the past few weeks, the Roadrunners have had a chance to win twice against Top 25 competition in the AAC, but they lost both games in overtime.

In their last outing, they won in dramatic fashion.

Jordan Ivy-Curry hit a three with 2.3 seconds left, boosting the Roadrunners to an 89-88 victory over the Tulane Green Wave. With Ivy-Curry in the lineup, UTSA all of a sudden has the look of one of the most dangerous teams in the conference. He is averaging 18.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Another player who raised eyebrows against the Green Wave was 7-foot center Carlton Linguard Jr., who scored a career-high 31 points.

For UTSA, South Florida will provide another tough test. The Bulls, who have won 10 of their last 11 overall, have moved into title contention in the AAC. They’re tied in the loss column with the leaders and only a half game out of first place.

Records

AAC men’s basketball:
UTSA 8-12, 2-5; USF 12-5, 5-1

Carlton Linguard Jr. UTSA defeated Incarnate Word (UIW) 90-80 in a non-conference men's basketball game at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Seven-foot center Carlton Linguard Jr. has hit 32 of 88 shots from 3-point distance this season. His 3-point percentage of 36.4 ranks as one of the best among big men in the AAC. – File photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA rallies from 15 down to beat A&M-Corpus Christi 66-59 in OT

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Shooting the ball poorly and trailing for almost the entire four quarters of regulation, the UTSA women’s basketball team just wasn’t ready to pack it in and take a loss.

The Roadrunners rallied from a 15-point, second-half deficit and won 66-59 in overtime Wednesday night, emerging from the Dugan Wellness Center with a remarkable road victory over the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders.

With the win, UTSA claimed its first win away from home this season and improved to 2-1 overall. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, coming off back-to-back 19-win seasons, fell to 2-2.

Guard Kyra White, playing 43 minutes, led UTSA with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists. Elyssa Coleman made some big buckets late and finished with 14. Sidney Love scored 10.

A&M-Corpus Christi, outsized at most positions, played extremely well for most of the game. The Islanders were paced by forward Alecia Westbrook with 17 points and eight rebounds. Mireia Aguado and Paige Allen contributed 14 apiece.

At one point midway through the third period, all looked lost for UTSA. Corpus Christi expanded on a 13-point halftime lead and made it 41-26 on two Aguado free throws with 3:26 left in the third. Going into the fourth, the home team led, 43-32.

UTSA, however, had scored the final basket of the third and the first nine points of the fourth period to pull within two points. Corpus Christi kept battling, with Aguado, Westbrook and Allen leading the way. A layup by Westbrook with 3:27 left pushed the home team in front, 49-44.

The Roadrunners responded with a 9-4 run in the final three minutes, with White taking charge and scoring five. At the end of the frantic fourth quarter, with the game tied, a key play unfolded. Aguado went to the free throw line and missed two free throws with six tenths of a second left to send it into the extra period.

From there, the Roadrunners scored the first six points in the OT. First it was Love, who knocked down two free throws. Then, Coleman nailed a jumper. Finally, it was UTSA newcomer Cheyenne Rowe, who rebounded a miss by White and laid it in.

Not to be outdone, Siena Guttadauro nailed a three-point shot out of the corner. Later, UTSA pushed the lead to eight, and the Islanders never got closer than four the rest of the way.

Records

UTSA 2-1
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 2-2

Coming up

UTSA at UT Arlington, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners were cold from the field early, three for 17 in the first quarter and three for their first 23 attempts overall. But in the end, they found the touch and finished 24 of 64 for 37.5 percent. Corpus Christi shot 39 percent and damaged its own cause by hitting only 50 percent (16 of 32) at the free-throw line. UTSA star Jordyn Jenkins sat out her third straight game. The Player of the Year last year in Conference USA is regarded as week-to-week in her rehabilitation from a knee injury.

Individuals

UTSA — Guard Kyra White, 18 points, six rebounds, five assists. Center Elyssa Coleman 14 points on seven of 13 shooting. Guard Sidney Love, 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals. Freshman guard Aysia Proctor and forward Cheyenne Rowe, seven points apiece off the bench.

A&M-Corpus Christi — Forward Alecia Westbrook, 17 points and eight rebounds. Guard Mireia Aguado, 14 points on five of seven shooting. Paige Allen, 14 points and eight rebounds.

First half highlights

Taking advantage of the sputtering Roadrunners, Westbrook and Aguado combined for 21 points in the first half as the Islanders forged a 33-20 lead at intermission.

Westbrook, a 6-foot-1 post from Kansas City, dominated inside the paint with three for three shooting from the field. Utilizing her size and agility, she also drew fouls consistently and converted six of seven from the free-throw line.

Aguado, a 5-9 playmaker from Barcelona, Spain, hurt UTSA with her speed and athleticism in the transition game. She hit four of six from the floor, a few of those buckets coming in transition, and finished with nine points in only 13 minutes.

UTSA’s offense was in such disarray that it produced almost twice as many turnovers (13) as field goals (seven) in the half. The Roadrunners managed to stay in the game with effort. On the boards, the Roadrunners held a 27-12 lead, including 14-3 on the offensive glass.

UTSA women in home opener Friday against New Mexico State

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By Jerry Briggs
For The JB Replay

The UTSA basketball teams return to action Friday, with the women hosting the New Mexico State Aggies and the men hitting the road to meet the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Here is a look at the matchups:

New Mexico State at UTSA women

At a glance: The Aggies (0-1) and the Roadrunners (0-1) will play Friday at 7 p.m. at the UTSA Convocation Center.

New Mexico State: The Aggies lost 68-57 at home Monday night to the Arizona Wildcats. Falling behind by 13 points after one quarter, New Mexico State rallied to make it close but couldn’t overcome 49 percent shooting by Arizona. Senior guard Molly Kaiser produced 22 points and six rebounds for the Aggies. Kaiser hit four of six from 3-point distance. Junior guard Sabou Gueye scored 13 points. New Mexico State has joined a revamped Conference USA, and in the C-USA preseason poll, the Aggies were picked sixth out of nine teams. Coach Jody Adams has entered her second season with the program, after leading New Mexico State last year to records of 18-17 and 10-8 in the Western Athletic Conference.

UTSA: Playing without injured star forward Jordyn Jenkins, the Roadrunners lost 70-55 at Arizona State on Monday night. Jenkins, the reigning Player of the Year in Conference USA, is likely out for the New Mexico State game and is considered week-to-week as she continues rehabilitation. On Monday, playing on the road in the Pac-12 in her absence, the Roadrunners fell behind 25-12 after one quarter and could not recover. Though they out-rebounded the Sun Devils by 10, a few of their interior players found themselves in foul trouble and two of them, Elyssa Coleman and Maya Linton, fouled out. Offensively, UTSA shot 34.5 percent from the field and 15.4 percent from three. Freshman power forward Idara Udo debuted with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Coming up: UTSA at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m.

UTSA at Minnesota men

At a glance: The Roadrunners (1-0) and Golden Gophers (1-0) will meet Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Minneapolis.

UTSA: The Roadrunners won 78-68 in overtime Monday night against Western Illinois. Playing at home, they called on Christian Tucker and Trey Edmonds to make big plays in the extra period, when they outscored the Leathernecks, 13-3. Tucker finished with 18 points and eight assists. Edmonds had 15 points and eight rebounds. Roadrunners now look to carry the momentum into Minneapolis. In facing the Gophers, the Roadrunners are looking to snap a 25-game losing streak against Power 5 competition. They haven’t won a game against a team from the Big Ten, the Big 12, the ACC, the SEC or the Pac-12 since November of 2009 when the defeated Iowa (of the Big Ten) on the road. UTSA coach Steve Henson is 0-13 against the P5 in his seven previous seasons.

Minnesota: The Gophers played at home Monday and scored an 80-60 victory over Bethune-Cookman, Fla. Forward Dawson Garcia produced 23 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. The 6-foot-11, 230-pound Garcia hit 14 of 16 at the free throw line. Minnesota led by 24 points at intermission and by 27 early in the second half, only to see Bethune-Cookman chip away and pull to within 10 with five minutes remaining. With Garcia leading the charge in the opener, the other frontcourt starters were 6-7 Joshua Ola-Joseph and 6-9 Pharrell Payne. In the backcourt, the Gophers went with 5-11 Howard transfer Elijah Hawkins and 6-4 Braeden Carrington. Minnesota finished 9-22 and 2-17 in the Big Ten last year. The Gophers, led by third-year coach Ben Johnson, are picked 14th (last) in the league.

Coming up: UTSA at Lamar, Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m.

Trey Edmonds. UTSA beat McMurry 125-84 in a men's basketball exhibition game on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

With a physical style, forward Trey Edmonds is emerging as one of the most significant newcomers on UTSA’s roster. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA basketball teams open regular season Monday

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Men’s basketball
Western Illinois at UTSA
Monday, 7 p.m.

Western Illinois at a glance: Coming off a 16-14 season, the program’s first winning record since 2012-13. Returning starters are Jesiah West and Quinlan Bennett. Sixth man KJ Lee and reserve JJ Kalakon also return. James Dent Jr., Drew Cisse, Joe Petrakis and Ryan Myers highlight the newcomers. WIU reloaded the roster with eight transfers. Chad Boudreau takes over as Leatherneck head coach, being promoted from associate head coach last spring. Boudreau was the lead WIU assistant the past three seasons. He previously was the head coach at Highland College in Freeport, Ill.

Women’s basketball
UTSA at Arizona State
Monday, 7 p.m.

Arizona State at a glance: Coming off an 8-20 season, including 1-17 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Sun Devils have 10 returning players and seven newcomers. Jaddan Simmons, who started 77 games over the past three seasons, averaged 12.4 ppg last year. Simmons was second on the team in scoring behind Tyi Skinner, who averaged 19.3. But Skinner is lost for the season due to a knee injury. Treasure Hunt is another key returning player, having averaged 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds. Making their ASU debuts will be Kadidia Toure, Marina Radocaj, Sandra Magolico, Kiley Sours-Miller, Hanna Miller, Mallory Miller and Jalyn Brown. Hanna and Mallory Miller are sisters.

UTSA students vote to reject a proposed athletics fee increase

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By Jerry Briggs
For The JB Replay

UTSA students have rejected a proposed increase in the athletics fee, the university announced Friday morning. A little more than 70 percent of nearly 5,900 students voting over the past few days elected to turn down an increase that would have boosted the fee from $20 to $27.50 per semester hour.

The final results are:

For – 1,730 or 29.33%.
Against – 4,168 or 70.66%

“I want to thank all the students who voted in this referendum. Your voice is important, and we appreciate your involvement,” said Lisa Campos, UTSA’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics. “I don’t believe this was a vote against athletics. In fact, we see more and more students coming to our games and supporting our teams.

“For many, this was a financial issue. Cost of attendance is top of mind for many of our students and we respect that. Our desire is to make the value of a UTSA degree even greater, and we will continue to do our part to support the success of our students and graduates.”

“As we head into Homecoming weekend, I’m so grateful for all the support that UTSA Athletics has received from across the university including the Spirit of San Antonio, UTSA Cheer and ROTC. We’ve all been together since day one,” Campos said.

The athletics fee has been a foundation of the athletic department’s funding ever since the university elected to start the football program. In 2007, students voted to increase the fee from $10 per semester hour to $20 per semester hour, with the fee capped at 12 hours per semester.

The additional revenue allowed UTSA to kick off its football program in the 2011 season.

Students have now turned down efforts to boost the fee twice in the last five years. Initially, one proposal failed in 2018. The latest effort was defeated this week. The proposal called for the addition of $1.50 per credit hour, each year for five years, through the 2027-28 school year.

Use of student fees to fund athletics has been common for universities adding football programs over the past two decades. As for how UTSA’s fee compares to others, the university says on its “Everyone Wins” website that it currently has the lowest in-state tuition and fees of any Texas school in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

UTSA’s athletics fee, according to the website, “is currently in the middle when compared to schools with emerging football programs, which are those programs that were started in the last 20 years. Those programs generally do not have the same level of ticket sales, donor contributions, conference media rights payments and sponsorship revenue like more established programs.”

McKenzie Adams is touched by the call to UTSA’s Hall of Fame

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Former UTSA volleyball All-American McKenzie Adams salutes the crowd Friday night before a home match against Missouri State. — Photo by Jerry Briggs

By Jerry Briggs
Special to The JB Replay

Volleyball star McKenzie Adams was in the house again Friday night at the UTSA Convocation Center, and, just like old times, the crowd cheered her presence.

This time, the former All-American for the Roadrunners was introduced as an honoree in the inaugural class of the UTSA Athletics Hall of Fame.

McKenzie Adams, a two-time All-American at UTSA, greets old friends at the Convocation Center. — Photo by Jerry Briggs

As the crowd stood and showered her with applause, Adams flashed the ‘Birds Up’ sign to fans who attended the pre-game ceremony on the first day of the season.

Later, the Roadrunners (2-0) completed their second straight-sets victory of the day, this one over the Missouri State Bears. Earlier, they dispatched the Texas Southern Tigers.

The scene in the pre-game lead-up to the Missouri State game was emotional, with Adams walking in, only to be greeted by former teammates and also by well-wishers who were fortunate enough to see her play in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons.

With the crowd filling most of one side of the bleachers on the lower level, considerable volume was produced. Adams was clearly moved by the cheers. She loved it especially that some of her former teammates had gathered to greet her.

From days gone by, Jordan Kotara, Elise and Brandy Huskey, Paige Hamilton and a few others were on hand.

“It means everything that they showed up,” Adams said. “I didn’t know that they were going to come. I wouldn’t be anywhere without them. You know, it takes six people on the court. To have them support me like this was a blessing. It was awesome.”

Adams, an athletic 6-foot-3 outside hitter, was humbled to get the call notifying her that she had made UTSA’s inaugural class.

“I’ve tried to put into words what it means,” she said. “To be a part of the inaugural class, it’s such an honor.”

Others who made the first class include former athletic director Lynn Hickey, former football coach Larry Coker, football player Marcus Davenport, basketball’s Devin Brown and track and field’s Tameka Roberts.

Adams, who grew up in Schertz and attended Steele High School, started her college career in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Virginia and then transferred to UTSA.

In her time with the Roadrunners, playing for former UTSA head coach Laura Neugebauer Groff, she earned honorable mention All-American honors as a junior in 2012 and then made the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America third team as a senior in 2013.

“I knew Virginia was not the place for me,” Adams said. “So I came back home, like a little lost puppy, not sure what I was going to do or where I was going to go. Laura reached out and kind of took me in and said, ‘We got a home for you here.’

“The rest is history.”

Not only did Adams reap all-conference honors each year she played in college, her teams won most of the time.

At UTSA, the Roadrunners went 67-28 overall and 40-8 combined in seasons spanning the Southland, the Western Athletic and Conference USA.

After UTSA lost to Texas A&M in the 2013 NCAA volleyball tournament, she answered the call and extended her college athletic career just a bit longer, playing basketball for former coach Luby Lichonczak.

“Obviously winning is going to be the best memory,” she said of her time on the UTSA campus. “But just being around the girls, being around the team, those were my best friends. I’m just grateful to them and everything that we got to do together.”

In the pros, Adams has pretty much seen it all, living in outposts such as Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Aachen and Schwerin in Germany; Istanbul in Turkey and both Conegliano and Novara in northern Italy.

“Volleyball’s allowed me to travel the world,” she said. “Not even playing, after the season, I’ve been to Croatia. I’ve been to Greece. I’ve been to places in Turkey. I’ve been able to experience different cultures. It’s been absolutely amazing.”

Now, in a few days, she’ll have her bags packed for a trip to Japan to play another season on a one-year contract. Not bad for a 31-year-old gym rat.

“I’ve always said, until they stop paying me, I’ll keep showing up,” she said.

Notable

UTSA downed Texas Southern 25-19, 25-14 and 25-15 on Friday morning before returning for the nightcap and whitewashing Missouri State, 25-21, 25-12, 25-19. UTSA will host Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday at 2 p.m.

UTSA set to join the American Athletic Conference in July 2023

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UTSA is expected to join The American Athletic Conference effective next summer. “Our intent is to join The American on July 1, 2023,” UTSA athletic director Lisa Campos said in a statement on Friday.

UTSA released the statement in the wake of news that the AAC would terminate its agreements with Cincinnati, Houston and UCF, which means that those schools could move into the Big 12 for the 2023-24 season.

Since the first season of UTSA football in 2011, the school’s athletics program as a whole has been in transition. As UTSA football operated as an independent in 2011, the other sports finished their affiliation with the Southland Conference in 2011-12.

After departing the Southland and starting play in the Western Athletic Conference in 2012-13, UTSA promptly moved out of the WAC and into Conference USA in 2013-14.

Now, after a 10th season in the C-USA in 2022-23, the Roadrunners’ 17 Division I teams are headed to the AAC. It’s a move that has been imminent for almost a year. The only detail in question since last October has been the timing, and now it’s official.

Six Conference USA schools are expected to split from the C-USA for the AAC — UTSA, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice and UAB. The other conference members are expected to include East Carolina, Tulsa, SMU, Memphis, Navy, Temple, South Florida and Tulane.

UTSA, Charlotte and FAU all announced Friday that they would make the move for the 2023-24 season.

Jung, Vooletich power Texas Tech as San Antonio area talent shines

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San Antonio-area baseball players crushed it on Sunday afternoon. Starring in four different games, in four cities, ball players who grew up in the area led their teams to victories. Here’s the way it happened:

Texas Tech 7, Kansas State 6
At Lubbock

Jace Jung, a Texas Tech sophomore from MacArthur — Hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to win the game.

Zac Vooletich, a Texas Tech junior from Brandeis — Started the fourth-ranked Red Raiders’ ninth-inning rally with a solo homer.

Texas 7, TCU 3
At Austin

Travis Sthele, a Texas redshirt freshman from Reagan — Came out of the bullpen and pitched one and 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his third win of the season.

Douglas Hodo III, a Texas redshirt sophomore from Boerne — Stroked an RBI double off the wall in the seventh inning for the seventh-ranked Longhorns.

UTSA 13, Old Dominion 4
At Norfolk, Va.

Ian Bailey, a UTSA senior from Stevens — Enjoyed a four-for-five day with a triple, a double and two singles. He also scored four runs and drove in three.

Texas State 10, Georgia Southern 9
At San Marcos

Dalton Shuffield, a Texas State senior from Johnson — Belted a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the first. Went two for three on the day with three RBIs for the 10th-ranked Bobcats.

x-Rankings, according to D1 Baseball.

Jhivvan Jackson scores 30 points in his Spanish league debut

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Jhivvan Jackson. UTSA beat Southern Miss 78-72 in Conference USA action at the Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. - photo by Joe Alexander

Guard Jhivvan Jackson, shown here in a file photo from the 2020-21 UTSA basketball season, made his professional debut last week in Spain. — Photo by Joe Alexander.

Jhivvan Jackson, UTSA’s all-time scoring leader, had 30 points and four assists in 26 minutes in his professional debut for Club Basquet Menorca in the third-tier Spanish league LEBA Plata, the school’s athletics media relations department reported.

A native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Jackson debuted with Basquet Menorca last week, on Wednesday.

Jackson played at UTSA for four seasons through the 2020-21 season and scored 2,551 points in his career, a performance that has been established as an NCAA Division I record among players born in Latin America.

The 6-foot guard’s point total in college is also the UTSA basketball school record, and it places Jackson at No. 52 overall on the Division I list.

In leading the Roadrunners to the Conference USA tournament last spring, Jackson suffered a shoulder injury, and he opted to rehabilitate it and not play professionally until recently.

The current UTSA coaching staff, led by Steve Henson, recruited Jackson and Keaton Wallace in the same class.

They both debuted for the Roadrunners in the 2017-18 season and became one of the highest-scoring duos in NCAA history.

Wallace left UTSA with 2,080 points, which is No. 2 in school history. He plays now for the Agua Caliente Clippers in the NBA G League, averaging 18.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists, according to basketball-reference.com.

UTSA vs. Southern Miss photo gallery

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Jordan Ivy-Curry. UTSA men's basketball lost to Southern Miss 74-73 on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, at the Convocation Center. - photo by Joe Alexander

Jordan Ivy-Curry passes the ball to Cedrick Alley Jr. on UTSA’s final possession of the game.

The UTSA men’s basketball team lost to Southern Miss 74-73 on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, at the Convocation Center in Conference USA action.