Update: FAU guard Devin Vanterpool will not play Wednesday night at UTSA. Vanterpool’s status was unveiled on the player availability report issued a few hours before tipoff at the Convocation Center.
Vanterpool averages a team-leading 15.8 points per game. He scored 21 in FAU’s 110-70 victory over UTSA on New Year’s Eve in Florida and had 26 Sunday in an FAU loss to South Florida.
For UTSA, player availability remains unchanged from Sunday’s game at Charlotte. Austin Rivers (knee) and Mo Njie (broken finger) are out, with Dorian Hayes (shoulder) listed as questionable.
By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
After nearly three months of frustration, the UTSA Roadrunners discovered the secret of winning on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C.
They fell behind by 13 points with eight minutes left against the Charlotte 49ers, but instead of folding, they seized momentum and won 88-79 to snap a 17-game losing streak.
The Roadrunners will try to keep the feeling alive on Wednesday when they face the slumping Florida Atlantic University Owls at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
UTSA also needs to win to keep its season alive. An FAU victory will eliminate the Roadrunners from consideration for the American Conference tournament.
FAU soundly beat UTSA 110-70 in Florida on New Year’s Eve, the start of a streak in which the Owls won six of their first seven in American Conference play.
Leading into the rematch, the Owls are struggling with injuries and a six-game losing streak, after falling on Sunday, 83-81 in overtime, to the South Florida Bulls.
FAU enters the game Wednesday at 14-12 overall and 6-7 in the conference, compared to last-place UTSA at 5-20 and 1-12.
“Really, really good offensive team,” UTSA coach Austin Claunch said. “They play the fastest tempo in the league. They’ve lost a couple in a row. They’ve had some injuries and some close games. Lost an overtime game (Sunday).
“There’s a lot of firepower there. We’ve got to be clear on personnel. You know, we’ve been mixing up defenses a little bit, and I think that’s been OK for us. But (against Charlotte) our offense really pushed us.
“The defense obviously came alive there and we made some really tough plays. We rebounded and turned them over. That’s got to continue to be a theme for us, you know, finding ways to disrupt Florida Atlantic.”
The Owls enter the rematch against the Roadrunners as the No. 3 scoring team in the league (81 points) and No. 2 in field goal percentage (46.3).
“They’re going to score,” Claunch said. “They’re going to make some shots. But obviously we’ve got to find ways to impact the ball, get deflections and get steals, so that we’re also creating easy offense for us.”
Records
FAU 14-12, 6-7
UTSA 5-20, 1-12
Coming up
FAU at UTSA, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
UTSA at Tulsa, Sunday, 3 p.m.
Notable
Just as UTSA finds itself on the verge of elimination from conference tournament consideration, the Roadrunners’ offense is finding a rhythm.
The offense is averaging 76.5 points on 45.3 percent shooting in its last four games. UTSA is also hitting 36 percent from three in that stretch.
For the season, UTSA ranks last in the American in scoring (69.6 points) and last in field goal percentage (39.9). The Roadrunners are 11th out of 13 teams in 3-point percentage (29.2).
The American tournament will be held in Birmingham this season. Only 10 teams will make it. As of today, both FAU and North Texas, with 6-7 league records, are tied for ninth in the standings.
The Roadrunners are five games out of the last spot with five to play.
UTSA junior guard/forward Brent Moss has averaged 15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals over the last seven games.
In that span, he has scored in double figures six times and has shot 44.9 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from the 3-point line.
Included in the streak is a season-high, 32-point game at South Florida on Feb. 4. Moss had 16 points and six rebounds at Charlotte.
UTSA will have only eight or nine players available for FAU.
The eight definitely available will include Jamir Simpson, Brent Moss, LJ Brown and Baboucarr Njie in the backcourt or on the wings and Kaidon Rayfield, Daniel Akitoby, Matheo Coffi and Jackson Fazande at forward.
Guard Dorian Hayes is questionable with a shoulder injury but was warming up on the court, shooting threes, with about an hour remaining before tipoff. Hayes has sat out the last four games.
“We’re banged up but we’re not short of guys who want to get out here and play,” UTSA coach Austin Claunch said.