Explosive UTSA guard Tai’Reon Joseph will be available to play today at Arkansas after sitting out the team’s first seven games. – File photo by Joe Alexander
By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
Guard Tai’Reon Joseph is available to play for the UTSA Roadrunners today in a road game at the University of Arkansas.
Joseph, the leading scorer in the Southwestern Athletic Conference last season at Southern (La.), would be making his UTSA debut if he gets into the game against the John Calipari-coached Arkansas Razorbacks.
To this point, he has been ineligible, sitting out the team’s first seven games for what is believed to be academic reasons.
Joseph’s addition to the active roster is expected to supply UTSA with a boost of offensive firepower and another long-armed, perimeter defender.
The 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Baton Rouge rated as a four-star transfer prospect when he committed to the Roadrunners last spring.
Playing for Southern in 2023-24, he led the SWAC in scoring at 20.5 points per game, with 43.8 percent shooting. He also averaged 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals.
In 19 games, he scored in double figures 18 times, including 11 games with 20 or more.
During the summer and fall workouts with the Roadrunners, Joseph flashed his potential at open practices by using a quick step to get to the basket. He can dunk with authority.
Records
UTSA 3-4
Arkansas 6-2
Coming up
UTSA at Arkansas, today, 1 p.m.
North Dakota at UTSA, Dec. 13, 7 p.m.
UTSA at North Dakota, Dec. 15, 2 p.m.
Notable
In the opener of a two-game set against their toughest opponents to date, the Roadrunners rallied from a 23-point deficit to tie at the end of regulation before losing 82-74 Tuesday night at Saint Mary’s (Calif.)
Primo Spears scored 24 points, and Marcus Millender had 21 for the Roadrunners. Spears, a Florida State transfer, averages 23.7 points to rank fifth nationally.
The Razorbacks have wins over Lipscomb, Troy, Pacific, Little Rock, Maryland-Eastern Shore and Miami. Arkansas beat Miami 76-73 on Tuesday in Florida for its first win over a Power 4 team this season. Losses have come against Baylor and Illinois.