Category Archives: Uncategorized

Utah Valley rallies to knock off UTSA, 88-80

Posted on by

Power forward Isaac Neilson and guard Conner Toolson scored 19 points apiece Saturday night as the Utah Valley Wolverines rallied down the stretch for an 88-80 victory over UTSA.

In a game played at Orem, Utah, the size of the home team proved to be the difference as the Wolverines won the rebounding battle with ease, 55-29.

Akolda Manwang, a 7-foot, 240-pound center, pulled down 14 rebounds for the Wolverines. Neilson, at 6-11, added 12. The Roadrunners’ two big men are only 6-8.

Despite being over-matched in the paint, the Roadrunners rallied from a 16-point, first-half deficit and surged into a 57-47 lead with 12:47 remaining.

From there, the Wolverines answered with a 16-2 run to re-gain control.

“Second half was a bunch of runs, both ways,” UTSA coach Steve Henson told the team’s radio broadcast. “We came out and played the right way for the first couple of possessions, got the ball to go in the hole pretty easily.

“They responded. Not surprised. You know, good team. Veteran team, and they just made the tougher plays all night long, and that was the key to it.”

Guard Keaton Wallace led UTSA with 21 points. Deon Lyle and Nick Allen scored 13 apiece for the Roadrunners (5-4).

The Wolverines (5-3) continued to show improvement after two early losses to powerhouses Kentucky and Duke.

Coming up

The Roadrunners play Monday night in Norman, Oklahoma, against the Oklahoma Sooners.

Henson worked as an assistant at Oklahoma for five seasons before taking the UTSA job in 2016.

UTSA erupts for a 125-64 victory over first-year Ottawa

Posted on by

UTSA guard Giovanni De Nicolao takes it inside to score in the first half Thursday night. Video: theJBreplay.com

UTSA sophomore guard George Willborn III says he considers basketball a team game.

With that, he credited teammates for his career-high, 22-point explosion Thursday night in a 125-64 rout over the Ottawa Spirit at the Convocation Center.

“It’s a team game,” Willborn said. “We worked hard on defense and got a lot of easy buckets. That was our main focus.”

The Roadrunners (5-3) placed six men in double figures and hit 50 percent from the field en route to the fourth-highest scoring game in the school’s 37-year history.

Out-rebounded by 20 in a 100-96 loss at Tulsa Tuesday night, UTSA dominated the boards 67-33. The 67 rebounds were a school record.

Willborn punctuated his best individual effort in two years by nailing 8 of 16 from the field and making all three attempts from 3-point range.

Guard Tanner Riley scored 14 to lead the Spirit (2-7), who are in their first season as a program.

With solid execution on both ends, the Roadrunners built a 37-point lead at halftime (62-25) and stretched it to as many as 63 points (123-60) with less than two minutes remaining.

Playing against a less-established program, with smaller and less-athletic players at virtually every position, it would have been easy for UTSA to let the game get sloppy.

But coach Steve Henson said he liked his players’ approach.

“We kept talking to our guys about playing the right way, defending the right way, making the right play,” Henson said. “We had a lot of success in driving it and scoring in the paint. We just told our guys to continue to focus and keep it simple.”

UTSA’s highest-scoring games

136-68, vs. East Central Oklahoma, 11-22-2008 (Coach Brooks Thompson)
132-97, vs. Texas State, 11-24-1990 (Coach Stu Starner)
128-70, vs. Georgia State, 2-10-1990 (Coach Ken Burmeister)
125-64, vs. Ottawa, Ariz., 11-30-2017 (Coach Steve Henson)
118-97, vs. Centenary, 1-12-1991 (Coach Stu Starner)

Nationally-ranked Gonzaga rolls past UIW, 103-68

Posted on by

Gonzaga made it look easy.

The 15th-ranked Bulldogs opened a large lead early and then cruised to a 103-68 victory Wednesday night over the University of the Incarnate Word.

Gonzaga, a Final Four team a year ago, jumped on UIW 19-2 and then kept pouring it on en route to a 49-26 lead at the half.

In the game played at the McCarthey Center in Spokane, Washington, forward Rui Hachimura scored 18 points to lead four Gonzaga players in double figures.

The Bulldogs (6-1) shot 54.4 percent from the field to hand UIW its third straight loss.

On the defensive end, Gonzaga held the Cardinals (3-3) to 43.9 percent and 15 points under their scoring average.

Point guard Jalin Hart led UIW with 17 points.

Cardinals forward Charles Brown III sat out his second straight game with a lower leg injury.

Josh Perkins sparked Gonzaga in the first half by hitting all five of his shots from the field for 13 points.

In the early going, Simi Socks knocked down a jumper for UIW to tie the score at 2-2.

From there, Gonzaga rattled off 17 straight points. A three-pointer by Perkins with 14:30 left in the half made it 19-2.

Upcoming

Sacramento State has canceled Saturday’s men’s basketball game at the University of the Incarnate Word, according to a news release from UIW.

UIW released the information on Wednesday afternoon.

A Sacramento State spokesman said Thursday “we bought out of the game in early October” after reaching a deal to play in the Wooden Legacy tournament.

The spokesman said Sacramento State has agreed to pay UIW $100,000 in compensation.

UIW will play its next game Dec. 5 when it hosts Texas Lutheran.

Injury report

Brown’s injury is a blow to the Cardinals, who rely on him for scoring and rebounding.

He sustained the injury late in a Nov. 22 home game against Loyola Marymount.

Brown, who averages 14 points and 5.5 rebounds, has now missed the past two games.

In the three-game skid, UIW has lost at home to Loyola Marymount (91-87) and on the road at Houston (97-58) and at Gonzaga.

Tulsa dominates on the glass, beats UTSA, 100-96

Posted on by

UTSA freshman guard Jhivvan Jackson scored a career-high 29 points, but Tulsa dominated on the glass at home in a 100-96 victory Tuesday night.

The Golden Hurricane won the rebounding battle, 47-27, which served to off-set 15 3-point shots by the visiting Roadrunners.

“(On) the offensive side, we’ve got the ability to do that,” UTSA coach Steve Henson told the team’s radio broadcast. “I told the guys, we’re going to have nights when we make 12 or 15 threes, and we did. But the whole deal was the boards.”

Tulsa outscored UTSA 21-6 on second-chance points, many of them coming as a result of 15 offensive rebounds by a swarm of athletic, long-armed players.

Trailing by 13 points with 4:53 remaining, the Roadrunners didn’t give up. Instead, their offense started to roll with a 12-3 run.

Three-pointers by Giovanni DeNicolao, Deon Lyle and Jackson trimmed the Tulsa lead to 87-83 with 2:21 left.

With Tulsa making just enough free throws down the stretch, UTSA couldn’t get any closer until the final shot, when George Willborn III nailed the team’s 15th trey with 4 seconds left.

“We never back down,” Jackson said. “We just come out and play as hard as we can and try to get the dub (the win).”

Jackson hit 6 of 12 from the field, 3 of 7 on three pointers from long distance and 14 of 15 at the free-throw line.

“All my teammates (were) just putting me in the right spot, giving me right looks and coach was just trusting me in my game,” Jackson said.

Addressing the media in Oklahoma, Tulsa coach Frank Haith called Jackson “a terrific scorer.”

“I thought he was dynamite tonight, made some tough shots,” Haith said. “He knows how to put that ball in the hole.”

Records

UTSA: 4-3

Tulsa: 4-3

Leading scorers

UTSA: Jhivvan Jackson 29, Keaton Wallace 17, Deon Lyle 14, Giovanni De Nicolao 12, George Willborn III 11.

Tulsa: Junior Etou 20, Sterling Taplin 18, Curran Scott 16, Martins Igbanu 10.

Coming up

At home: UTSA returns home to play the Ottawa Spirit from Sunrise, Arizona, on Thursday night.

On the road: The team will hit the road again with games at Utah Valley on Saturday and at Oklahoma on Monday.

Kendell Ramlal shows Henson, UTSA that he can play

Posted on by

Nearly a year has passed since UTSA coach Steve Henson had a chance meeting with a student after one of the Roadrunners’ home basketball games.

As it turned out, this particular student towered over most fans in the Convocation Center that night.

He was 6-feet-8, and he also carried 220 pounds on a chiseled frame.

Henson didn’t know all the details, but Kendell Ramlal was looking for a chance to play.

“What’s your story?” the coach asked.

Ramlal spelled it out. He once played for Episcopal High School in the Houston area. He played three years at Texas State.

And now he was just a student at UTSA, working out and playing 5-on-5 in the rec center, looking for another opportunity.

Not too many days went by before Ramlal’s phone buzzed.

“They texted me,” Ramlal said. “They said ‘We need you.’ I said, ‘Ok, I’ll be there.’ It was that simple.”

A year later, Henson is most happy to have made Ramlal’s acquaintance.

The fifth-year senior is starting to take on a significant role for the Roadrunners, who play on the road tonight at Tulsa.

In the past two games, Ramlal has come off the UTSA bench, gradually seeing more and more court time as his confidence grows.

Henson played him 17 minutes in a 72-58 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last Friday.

He responded with a career-high 11 points, four rebounds and three blocks.

“We knew he could help us defensively,” Henson said. “But he’s making the right plays. Big blocks. He rebounds. Guards his own guy.

“He’s just a different level athlete. We don’t have anyone else who can rebound above the rim. It was very exciting to see him do that for us.”

Henson said he is surprised with Ramlal’s emergence.

“Honestly, yes,” the coach said. “He surprises me that he’s doing it while the lights are on. He had some days where he did that in practice. He did it in June.

“Just didn’t know as we got closer to the games, (if) he was going to do it when the pressure was on.

“And he is. He’s stepping up big time. Again, he just didn’t play that much at Texas State. You wonder, why is it going to be different now? But he’s been fantastic.”

After punishing Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with his hustle and all-around play, Ramlal smiled and admitted that it feels great to contribute..

He said he sees himself as UTSA’s “energy guy,” hitting the floor to boost the team when it needs a push.

“Definitely,” he said. “I’m the energy guy. I’m a fifth-year senior, so I bring a lot of leadership. I’m honestly the biggest, strongest guy out here, so I try to show the guys – lead by example – how to be the bigger and tougher guy.

“I was able to do it tonight, so I feel great about that.”

Tim Floyd retires as basketball coach at UTEP

Posted on by

UTEP basketball coach Tim Floyd retired Monday night after the Miners lost at home to the Lamar Cardinals, the El Paso Times reported.

Lamar beat UTEP, 66-52.

“I’m done, this is my last game as a coach,” Floyd said.

The Times said the move came a day after Jim Senter was introduced as the school’s athletic director.

Floyd said later that his decision had nothing to do with Senter’s arrival.

“I’ve coached for 42 years and I love this school,” Floyd told the newspaper. “My father played here. Nobody wants to win here more than I do. I’ve coached at this university for 16 years and I think it’s time for somebody else to have the opportunity to have the joy that I’ve had, the agony that I’ve had, the acclaim that I’ve had and the heartbreak that I’ve had in my career.”

With the loss, UTEP fell to 1-5 on the season.

Floyd was starting his 24th season as a college head coach and his eighth at UTEP when he abruptly stepped down.

He had also worked five seasons as a head coach in the NBA.

With deep roots in El Paso, he started his coaching career at UTEP from 1978-86 as an assistant under the legendary Don Haskins.

As a collegiate head coach, he worked at Idaho, New Orleans, Iowa State, Southern Cal and UTEP, compiling a record of 465-280, according to online records.

He coached eight NCAA tournament teams, including two at New Orleans, three at Iowa State and three at Southern Cal.

After six seasons in the NBA, including parts of four as head coach of the Chicago Bulls, Floyd returned to the college game at UTEP in the 2010-11 season.

He led the Miners to three seasons of 22 wins or more but never was able to reach the NCAA tournament.

Floyd took UTEP to the NIT in 2011, to the CBI in 2014 and to the NIT again in 2015.

In seven plus seasons with the Miners, he finished 138-99.

Floyd’s father lettered in basketball, football, swimming and gymnastics at the school from 1939-43.

UTEP has a unique place in college basketball history.

In 1966, the school known then as Texas Western College became the first to win the NCAA championship with an all-black starting lineup.

The Miners remain as the only team in the state to win an NCAA Division I title.

Aggies move up to No. 9 after win over Southern Cal

Posted on by

The state of Texas is well-represented in the latest installment of the Associated Press Top 25 for men’s college basketball.

On the heels of a blowout victory over Southern Cal, Texas A&M has moved up to No. 9. Baylor is 16th, Texas Tech 22nd and TCU 23rd.

The Aggies improved to 6-0 on the season after beating USC 75-59 on Sunday in Los Angeles.

D.J. Hogg scored 15 points in a 19-3 run in the second half for the Aggies. Duane Wilson produced 13 points and Tyler Davis 10.

One of the most encouraging signs for A&M was the pay of freshman guard T.J. Starks, who produced 10 points in 14 minutes.

Texas A&M entered the season looking for redemption after failing to make the NCAA tournament last spring.

In the opening weeks of the new year, the Aggies have knocked off West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Penn State and USC.

A&M returns home to face UT-Rio Grande Valley on Thursday. The team’s next major test is Dec. 5 in Phoenix against Arizona.

Duke rallies behind Marvin Bagley III, defeats Florida

Posted on by

By Jerry Briggs
For theJBreplay.com

It’s early Monday morning now, and the highlights are still rolling on ESPN.

Most of them involve Duke freshman center Marvin Bagley III.

Bagley produced 30 points and 15 rebounds Sunday night as the Blue Devils erased a 17-point, second-half deficit to stun Florida, 87-84, in the PK80 tournament Motion Bracket final.

Florida controlled the action early in the second half, building a 74-57 lead when Egor Koulechev made two free throws.

But down the stretch, Duke’s size and athleticism started to take a toll.

The Gators couldn’t do much to stop Bagley, who posted down low to score 10 during the Blue Devils’ rally.

Gary Trent Jr. made four straight free throws in the final 1:11 to seal it for Duke.

With a chance to tie at the end, Koulechev faced defensive pressure and threw up a wild shot that missed as the buzzer sounded.

Duke fans have seen this type of performance before, from Bagley and from their team as a whole.

Bagley produced 34 points and 15 rebounds in the tournament semifinal against Texas.

In that game, the Blue Devils erased a 16-point deficit to beat the Longhorns 85-78 in overtime.

After the Texas game, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called Bagley “a treasure.”

“I believe ultimately in this kid. I knew he was going to be good, but coaching him every day, he’s a treasure, really,” Krzyzewski said. “Because he wants to be really good. All of his teammates love him because he’s as hard of a worker as we have.”

Alternative to the NFL: College basketball from Portland on ESPN

Posted on by

Forward Theo Pinson is averaging 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists this year for North Carolina. Oh, and, he can also get off the floor.

By Jerry Briggs
For theJBreplay.com

Way out West, Texas and Gonzaga have tipped off in the made-for-television PK80 tournament at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

It’s the third-place game in the tournament’s Motion Bracket.

I’m watching from my living room in San Antonio, the home of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four, all set to watch this game and a few others today and tonight.

Anxious to see the Longhorns for the first time.

Also, we’ll try to size up North Carolina- Michigan State, which starts at 7:30 tonight, and Duke-Florida, which is set for 9:30.

So, if you need a break from the National Football League this afternoon, check back with thejbreplay.com for some observations.

I’ll be here all day.

Texas-Gonzaga

The Longhorns, who played well in an overtime loss to Duke on Friday, have hit the wall.

They jumped out to a 16-8 lead on the Bulldogs.

Now early in the second half, the Bulldogs have surged into a 48-33 lead.

Texas freshman forward Mo Bamba has five points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

Bamba has been pushed around a little bit by Gonzaga’s big guys. He looks out of sorts at the moment, with the Bulldogs on their big run.

But he is the real deal.

Bamba is one of those players who will inspire your imagination, and then he’ll take an ill-advised three from the top of the circle.

Gonzaga’s Jeremy Jones

Jones, who played in high school at East Central, is on the floor for the Zags. A transfer from Rice, he’s averaging 3.4 points in 9.6 minutes off the bench.

Oh, brother…

Texas has erased a 21-point deficit and has tied the game against Gonzaga at the end of regulation.

The Longhorns outscored the Zags 15-4 in the last few minutes.

Bamba hit a bucket and then forced a bad pass on the inbounds, which Texas intercepted and turned into a buzzer-beating three.

In overtime, Gonzaga forced a few turnovers, kicked its transition game into gear and subdued Texas, 76-71.

Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson, Jr.

I can still remember Jaren Jackson hitting big threes in the Spurs’ first championship season, in 1998-99.

Tonight, his son will take the spotlight when Michigan State plays North Carolina in the finals of the PK80 tournament.

Freshman center Jaren Jackson, Jr., is starting for coach Tom Izzo’s Spartans.

Through two games, the former McDonald’s All-American is averaging 12.5 points and 10 rebounds.

In 1999, his father enjoyed two of the biggest games of his career in Portland, in the same arena that Michigan State and Carolina will duel tonight.

Back then, it was known as the Rose Garden.

In June of 1999, Jaren Jackson, Sr. came off the bench to score 19 points in Game 3 and 11 points in Game 4 as the Spurs swept the Trail Blazers in the NBA’s Western Conference finals.

Michigan State 63, North Carolina 45

Jaren Jackson, Jr., a projected lottery pick in the next NBA Draft, didn’t have much of an impact on the finals of the PK80 Victory Bracket.

The Michigan State freshman center picked up two early fouls and sat out most of the first half.

A flagrant foul — questionable, in my view — sent him to the bench in the second half.

Nevertheless, Michigan State throttled North Carolina, 63-45, holding the Tar Heels to 24.6 percent shooting.

“I thought out defense was really, really good,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo told ESPN. “Our offense, we hung in there.”

Sophomore guard Joshua Langford led the Spartans with 23 points.

Jackson, considered a “stretch-four” because of his ability to shoot from distance, finished with three points, five rebounds and two blocks.

He started the tournament with a flourish, producing 13 points and 10 rebounds against DePaul and 12 points and 10 boards against Connecticut.

Duke – Florida

Riding the hot shooting of KeVaughn Allen and Chris Chiozza, Florida jumped on Duke in the opening minutes of the PK80 Motion Bracket title game, moving out to leads of 18-4 and 24-10.

Did Duke flinch? Hardly. Center Marvin Bagley III led a rally that propelled the Blue Devils to a dominant run. At one point, Duke was up 44-37 and cruising.

But Florida settled down, kept playing and took a 53-47 lead into into intermission. Great up and down play by two talented teams.

Where did Florida get all this talent? Jalen Hudson is destroying Duke right now with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Gators are leading the Blue Devils 80-70 with 5:29 remaining in the game.

Duke’s size is starting to take a toll on Florida. Blue Devils are on a 24-10 run. Florida’s lead is down to three. We’re about to see a great finish here. Two free throws by Gary Trent, Jr., give Blue Devils an 85-84 lead. Less than a minute remaining.

Jalen Hudson turns it over on the dribble. Trent hits two free throws. Duke now up by three. There’s 8.9 seconds left. Florida with possession. Bagley has 30 points and 15 rebounds. Duke wins 87-84.

Black Friday plan: Take a walk, watch a few basketball games

Posted on by

By Jerry Briggs
For theJBreplay.com

I do my best to avoid the Black Friday shopping scene.

It’s just not appealing to think about walking elbow-to-elbow with hundreds of others in a mall concourse on the day after Thanksgiving.

Even though I know I will need to make a few purchases at some point before the Holidays, I will take a pass today in pursuit of a few more leisurely pursuits.

Specifically, I’m on my way to the Leon Creek Greenway.

Instead of battling the crowds, I’ll try to find some peace out there on the concrete path that runs through Northwest Bexar County.

Later, I’ll head over to the UTSA Convocation Center to watch some basketball.

Both the UTSA women and men are playing later today.

Follow along for updates.

Final: NIU 69, UTSA women 55

Northern Illinois scored 17 of the first 19 points and then held on to win, 69-55, beating the home team on the first day of the two-day UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.

Forward Kelly Smith produced 15 points to lead five players in double figures for Northern Illinois (4-1).

Sophomore forward Tija Hawkins led UTSA (1-4) with 13 points.

The Roadrunners have lost four straight.

Maybe they can get a few problems ironed out before they take on North Dakota on Saturday at 2 p.m.

UTSA men 72, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 58

Don’t tell anyone, but I’m running late for the men’s game between Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTSA.

No excuses. Just had to get some dinner and some coffee in between the afternoon contest and the nightcap.

As I get settled into my seat at press row, I see UTSA has the game well in hand, leading 33-23 with 3:30 remaining.

Freshman Jhivvan Jackson, UTSA’s leading scorer, is dressed out. He’s on the bench. But he hasn’t played yet.

UTSA now leads 41-27 at interimssion.

The Roadrunners defeat the Islanders 72-58.

UTSA improves to 4-2 on the season.