Steve Henson (left) speaks with a referee on the sideline last weekend during a game against Southeastern Oklahoma. Assistant coach Mike Peck (right) listens in. – Photo by Joe Alexander”
Last year, the UTSA Roadrunners set out on a nightly basis to push the pace and shoot the 3-pointer.
Even if the long ball was hoisted fairly early in the shot clock, that was OK, because they had enough threats to run and hoist field goal attempts with just about anyone.
And with just about any degree of difficulty.
As UTSA enters Conference USA play tonight, hosting the UTEP Miners at 7 at the Convocation Center, the Roadrunners have established a different mindset.
Jhivvan Jackson and Keaton Wallace are expected to fire away, as usual, but the Roadrunners have evolved into more of a team based on defense.
UTSA has held eight straight opponents to 42 percent shooting or less during a 6-2 streak that has given the team hope after an 0-5 start.
“Guys are practicing the right way, buying into it,” UTSA coach Steve Henson said. “We have five guys who have played a lot, so it wasn’t shocking that we’d end up being a good defensive team.”
Even the younger players have developed a good grasp on what is expected of them on a daily basis.
“Really, we’ve spent a lot of time talking to our leaders about taking control of that, taking control of the defense,” Henson said. “That needs to be their identity.
“Again, that was the thing we had to work through. Who are we? What gives us the best chance to win? Is that 90 possessions a game? Or is it being a great defensive team?
“We’ve gone along here and recognized that we’ve got to defend every single night.”
Notable
UTSA and UTEP will play back-to-back games to open C-USA play, a byproduct of a revamped scheduling system within the conference. The teams will meet again Saturday night in El Paso.
McNeese State center Sha’Markus Kennedy stands his ground for an offensive rebound and a put back in the second half, much to the delight of teammate Roydell Brown (22).
Guard Roydell Brown scored 23 points Wednesday night, leading the McNeese State Cowboys to an 88-77 road victory over Incarnate Word in the Southland Conference opener for both teams.
Four players reached double figures for the Cowboys, including center Sha’Markus Kennedy with 20. Guards James Harvey had 18 and Trey Touchet 13 to help hand UIW its fourth straight loss.
Freshman Dwight Murray Jr. started and led the Cardinals with a season-high 18 points. Charles Brown III had 14 and Augustine Ene and Morgan Taylor 13 apiece.
UIW forward Christian Peevy, playing with a cast on his broken left hand, finished with four.
Peevy was making his return to the lineup after sitting out the Cardinals’ last two games with the injury.
He apparently hurt the hand in the second half at LSU on Dec. 9.
Records
McNeese 5-9, 1-0
Incarnate Word 5-9, 0-1
Notable
The story of the game centered on McNeese State’s offensive execution that led to 66.7 percent shooting. Kennedy hit 8 of 9 from the floor and Brown 8 of 12.
Quotable
“You got to give McNeese credit,” first-year UIW coach Carson Cunningham said. “They came in here and shot it really well, asserted themselves physically.
“We have a lot of work to do. It wasn’t a good enough effort. I got to do a better job coaching. We’re just going to have to get back to work.”
Keeping the faith
Two positives stood out for UIW on an otherwise tough night.
For one thing, the Cardinals trailed by 25 in the second half and ended up making a spirited charge in the final few minutes.
Also, Peevy showed considerable courage in trying to play with his hand in a cast.
“He’s tough,” Murray said. “When he’s hurt in practice, he doesn’t stop playing. He never stops pushing. That’s what we love about him.”
UIW freshman Dwight Murray, Jr., gets a steal and races downcourt to hit a pull-up jumper in the first half.
Freshmen on the rise
If there is a silver lining in the team’s start this season, it’s that a series of performances from freshmen — Morgan Taylor, Antoine Smith Jr., and now Murray — continue to point to a brighter future.
Murray, from Austell, Georgia, enjoyed his best game with 6 of 12 shooting, including 3 of 7 from beyond the arc.
“Yeah, yeah, there’s definitely positives,” Cunningham said. “But the bottom line is, tonight, we didn’t do a good enough job, and I need to do a better job.”
Ailing with injuries
UIW played without Bryce Davis, Des Balentine, Romello Wilbert and Keaton Hervey against McNeese.
Davis, a 6-7 freshman from Glendale, Arizona, is the latest casualty. He wore a walking boot on his left foot. Davis has played in 13 games, averaging 2.8 points in 9.5 minutes.
Second-half recap
The Cowboys, with Touchet and Harvey connecting regularly from long distance, outscored the Cardinals 29-10 in a key 10-minute stretch early in the second half.
Harvey hit two three-pointers near the end of the streak, which boosted McNeese into a 72-47 lead with 11:25 remaining.
First half
The Cowboys scored 19 out of 21 points in a seven-minute barrage early in the game and then held on for a 41-33 halftime lead.
With McNeese shooting 65 percent in the half, Brown led the way with 16 points.
Murray scored seven to lead the Cardinals, who rallied with an 8-0 run in the last 1:47.
Ene sparked UIW’s last field goal (see video below) with a defensive strip under McNeese’s basket, which led to a fast break and a three-pointer by Murray.
Trailing 6-0 early, the Cowboys went on a 19-2 run with Brown scoring eight points during the streak.
On the final scoring play of the first half, UIW sophomore Augustine Ene strips the ball away from a McNeese State post player, dribbles out and finds Dwight Murray, Jr., for a three-pointer.
Incarnate Word forward Christian Peevy is in uniform and warming up Wednesdday night as the Cardinals prepare to host the host the McNeese State Cowboys in the Southland Conference opener for both teams.
Christian Peevy leads Incarnate Word in scoring with 14 points per game.
Peevy, UIW’s leading scorer, has been out for two games with an injured hand. He is turning for the McNeese game with a cast on his left (non-shooting) hand. Peevy is averaging 14 points per game.
The game matches first-year coaches at both schools, Carson Cunningham for UIW (5-8) and Heath Schroyer for McNeese (4-9).
In its sixth year in the conference, UIW is looking for its first trip to the SLC tournament.
The Cardinals were ineligible in the first four years of membership as they completed a transition from NCAA Division II to Division I.
Last year, in their first year of elibility, they didn’t make it, finishing 7-21 overall and 2-16.
The Cowboys, from Lake Charles, Louisiana, haven’t been to the tournament since 2016.
Notable
UIW will be without Bryce Davis, Des Balentine, Romello Wilbert and Keaton Hervey against McNeese.
Davis, a 6-7 freshman, is in a walking boot on his left foot. He has played in all 13 games, averaging 2.8 points in 9.5 minutes.
