UTSA guard Vasean Allette is out for the season

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

After two months of uncertainty, the UTSA Roadrunners have announced through the American Conference that guard Vasean Allette won’t play this season.

The news was unveiled on Wednesday morning on the conference’s website before UTSA was scheduled to open play in the American on the road at Florida Atlantic.

His status was listed as ‘out (season).’

Allette, a 6-foot-2 junior from Ontario, Canada, had 51 games of experience in NCAA Division I, including 19 at Old Dominion in 2023-24 and 32 at TCU in ’24-25.

He led Old Dominion in scoring at 17.4 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field, including 35 percent from three.

After transferring into the Big 12 Conference at TCU, he became one of the Horned Frogs’ key players. He started 25 games while averaging 11.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Allette also contributed on the defensive end with 1.3 steals.

Allette was considered UTSA’s top offseason pickup out of the transfer portal. Before even playing a game for the Roadrunners, he was picked second team preseason all conference.

Potential notwithstanding, Allette never played a regular-season game for the Roadrunners, sitting out all 12 to this point.

His only appearance came on Oct. 25 at home in an exhibition against the University of the Incarnate Word. He finished with two points and six assists in 16 minutes.

When the regular season started a week later against the College of Biblical Studies, however, Allette didn’t play and wasn’t in pregame warmups or on the bench.

Initially, his absence was attributed to injury. But by November, Coach Austin Claunch acknowledged that there were “other things” keeping him from playing.

“We’ll keep most of that in house,” Claunch said on Nov. 18. “He’s obviously been injured. But there’s a few different things that, we’re getting him all the way back and making sure. I’m not bringing him back until he’s 100 percent.”

A spokesman said last week that Allette was not playing for “personal reasons.” His status for next season and beyond is unclear.

Other UTSA players mentioned in the conference’s availability report were guard Pierce Spencer, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury, and forward Stanley Borden.

Claunch said earlier this week that Borden has a hand injury and is two weeks away from returning to practice.

Records

FAU 8-5
UTSA 4-8

Coming up

UTSA at Florida Atlantic, Wednesday, noon
UTSA at Temple, Saturday, 11 a.m.

UTSA women open conference play by holding off Tulane, 65-63

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Ereauna Hardaway. UTSA beat Tulane 65-63 in their American Athletic Conference women's basketball opener on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA guard Ereauna Hardaway continued her inspired play with 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds against Tulane. The senior transfer from North Texas leads the team in scoring over the last five games, averaging 14.6 points on 46 percent shooting. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Even before the American Conference women’s basketball season tipped off Tuesday afternoon, the defending champion UTSA Roadrunners took the lead in one statistical category — most players on the inactive list (seven).

Among the missing was injured all-conference forward Idara Udo, a third-year veteran leader, who came out to watch warmups in a walking boot.

To make it even more challenging, the Roadrunners lost another veteran just before halftime against the Tulane Green Wave when guard Damara Allen took a blow to the face while playing on the defensive end.

She sat out the second half with an ice bag on her forehead, leaving UTSA with only eight active players. As it turned out, eight was enough, as the Roadrunners made a defensive stop in the last two seconds to hold off the Green Wave in a tense, 65-63 victory.

Cheyenne Rowe. UTSA beat Tulane 65-63 in their American Athletic Conference women's basketball opener on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Cheyenne Rowe produced a double double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, helping UTSA to its 10th straight win in the American dating back to last season. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Afterward, UTSA coach Karen Aston was joined in the postgame news conference by two of her most dynamic players, guard Ereauna Hardaway and forward Cheyenne Rowe. Both were instrumental as the Roadrunners won their 10th straight, and their 12th straight at home, in the American.

“I thought this was just an extremely gutty performance by our team,” Aston said. “We’ve had kind of blow after blow of injuries and setbacks, (like) losing Damara during the middle of the game.

“I just thought we plugged along, and these two beside me I think were the solid rocks for the team.

“Again, (we had) lots of contributions from the young guys and a game that was extremely gritty on our part. Really, really, really proud of this team.”

Extending to five a string of outstanding individual performances, Hardaway finished with a team-high 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds. She led four UTSA players in double figures, including Rowe with 13, freshman Adriana Robles with 11 and junior transfer Jayda Holiman with 10.

Rowe also pulled down 12 rebounds, including six on the offensive end, for her second double double of the season.

Tulane had a chance to tie it at the end, but Jayda Brown misfired on a 16-foot turnaround at the buzzer. Kanisha Daniel led the visitors with 12 points and Mecailin Marshall added 11.

In the final analysis, the Green Wave made two more field goals (25-23) than UTSA, but the Roadrunners made up the difference with one more three-pointer (9-8) and with five more free throws. At the line, UTSA hit 10 of 12 to five of eight for Tulane.

Free throws were critical at the end as Daniel knocked down two to bring the Green Wave to within one point with 10 seconds left. On the other end, Mia Hammonds made the second of two for the Roadrunners with two seconds remaining for the final point of the game.

Jayda Holiman. UTSA beat Tulane 65-63 in their American Athletic Conference women's basketball opener on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Junior transfer Jayda Holiman scored all 10 of her points in the second half after starting guard Damara Allen had come out of the game with an injury. – Photo by Joe Alexander

On the last play, coming out of a timeout, Tulane inbounded from the side, in front of its own bench. The pass went to Brown, who turned and missed off the rim as time expired.

Hardaway said the emphasis in a tight fourth quarter centered on playing soundly on the defensive end. “At one point in the game, we were trading buckets,” she said. “Stops matter the most down the stretch, especially when it’s a close game.”

In the closing seconds, Rowe said it was important “for everyone to put everything out on the court” and that winning “was very important to all of us.”

Rowe acknowledged that she was indeed thinking about the team’s legacy of winning at home during the hectic fourth quarter, in which she produced six points and four rebounds. “This is our house,” she said. “We don’t want to get beat here.”

Records

Tulane 5-8, 0-1
UTSA 6-6, 1-0

Coming up

UTSA at Temple, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

First half

With UTSA scrambling to get off a shot in the waning seconds, Robles caught a pass from forward Emilia Dannebauer and knocked down a three-pointer at the buzzer, lifting the Roadrunners into a 31-26 halftime lead.

Hardaway and Robles, two natural point guards, started the game together and ended up combining for 17 points in the half. Hardaway produced nine points and also three rebounds and two assists.

Robles, a freshman from Puerto Rico, scored eight on three of six shooting. She made two of three from long distance.

Adriana Robles hit a long 3-pointer at the buzzer at the end of the first half. UTSA beat Tulane 65-63 in their American Athletic Conference women's basketball opener on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Freshman Adriana Robles celebrates after hitting a long three pointer at the first-half buzzer. Robles finished with 11 points and made three of UTSA’s nine buckets from long distance. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Tulane, one of the highest-scoring offenses in the American Conference, led for a few minutes in the first quarter until UTSA’s defense started to clamp down.

The Roadrunners led for most of the rest of the way, holding the Green Wave to 15 points in the first quarter and 11 in the second.

The game turned at the end when Marshall drove for a layup with 1:47 remaining to tie the score, 26-26.
Marshall was called for a flagrant foul on the move as she apparently hit Allen in the face.

As a result, UTSA was awarded two free throws and possession. Hardaway made both free throws to boost UTSA into a 28-26 lead.

UTSA held Tulane scoreless the rest of the way, with Robles making the last shot on a high-arc jumper from the left wing.

Notable

UTSA finished 17-1 in conference last season, with its only loss on Jan. 29, 2025 at South Florida. Its last conference loss at home came the previous season on Feb. 22, 2024 against Temple. UTSA has won four out of five on its home court this season and 20 of its last 21.

Pregame

Starting in 2025-26, the American has elected to make public on game days lists of athletes who will be held out. The conference started the practice during the football season, and it will continue with women’s and men’s basketball.

Siena Guttadauro. UTSA beat Tulane 65-63 in their American Athletic Conference women's basketball opener on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Guard Siena Guttadauro hasn’t played a game all season after the birth of her son in July, but she did participate in warmups before tipoff against Tulane. – Photo by Joe Alexander

As a result, UTSA’s list of inactive players was posted on the conference’s website a few hours before tipoff. The Roadrunners’ seven inactive included starting forward Idara Udo, who would not play in the league opener against the Green Wave.

Udo was on the floor in warmups wearing a walking boot on her right foot. Her absence from the lineup for the second straight game meant that sophomore Emilia Dannebauer would start in the frontcourt along with Cheyenne Rowe.

Players listed as out for the season included forwards Nyayongah Gony, Taylor Ross and Sema Udo, according to the American’s new player availability notes.

Players listed as out for the game included Idara Udo, Maya Linton, Saher Alizada and Siena Guttadauro.

Idara Udo is the only one of the seven on the inactive list who has played this season. The 6-foot junior from Plano last suited up on Nov. 15 against Texas A&M-Kingsville. She is averaging 8.1 points and 7.2 rebounds.

Of the UTSA players on the list who haven’t played, Guttadauro was the only one of them on the floor during pre-game warmups. Her activity was a first for her at home games this season, indicating that it’s possible she is readying herself to play in the last few months.

Guttadauro gave birth to a son, Dante, on July 24. In the days leading into the regular season, UTSA on its own announced that Sema Udo and Taylor Ross would be out for the season with injuries. The others on the inactive list are also presumed to be injured.

Gony, a 6-foot-4 forward, has not been in attendance at home games this season but has attended other sporting events on campus.

As for Tulane, the Green Wave announced that guards Jaylee Womack and Sadie Shores were out for the season.

Amira Mabry. UTSA beat Tulane 65-63 in their American Athletic Conference women's basketball opener on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Amira Mabry, a Tulane junior from San Antonio area Judson High School, enjoyed a moment before tipoff Tuesday against UTSA. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA’s Hardaway steps into a ‘scoring’ point guard role

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Ereauna Hardaway. UTSA women's basketball beat Incarnate Word 74-57 on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at UIW. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Newcomer Ereauna Hardaway, a transfer from North Texas, has averaged 14 points, 6.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds in her last four games. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA coach Karen Aston has always had a soft spot for smooth-operating point guards with a penchant for scoring the basketball.

She recruited Sidney Love out of Steele High School in 2022 to fill that role.

Aston did it again last season, moving Love off the ball and bringing in transfer Nina De Leon Negron from the University of the Incarnate Word to run the show.

Led by star forward Jordyn Jenkins, the Roadrunners surged behind a De Leon Negron and Love-fueled backcourt to an American Conference regular-season championship.

This season, with Tulane coming in to the UTSA Convocation Center on Tuesday at 1 p.m. for the conference opener, all three of the team’s former stars have moved on.

But that’s not to say that the UTSA point guard position isn’t in good hands. It is, apparently, with North Texas transfer Ereauna Hardaway taking charge.

“Her role, for sure, as the point guard, is to get our team organized at all times,” Aston said. “And I think she’s doing a great job of that.”

Though Hardaway is averaging 9.3 points per game, she has picked it up recently, scoring at a 14.0 clip over the last four.

“She’s a scoring point guard,” Aston said. “There’s no question about that. We knew that, and, I love point guards that can score. So I think that she’s just finding her footing, for lack of a better word.”

After a shaky start following a preseason injury, Hardaway has elevated in all phases of the game, running the point, rebounding and, yes, shooting the ball.

Against Baylor, Prairie View, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Columbia, Hardaway has knocked down a combined 22 of 46 from the field and eight of 13 from behind the arc.

But she’s not just gunning shots, as evidenced by her 6.7 assists average over the same stretch, and also 5.0 rebounds.

Speaking with the media on Dec. 15, Hardaway cited a better mental attitude as a reason for her increased production.

“I’ve been hearing the same thing from my coaches, my parents, everybody tells me the same thing,” she said. “So, I’d say change of mindset. Also, coach getting on me at practice after the Baylor game. I’m hearing that she believes in me and everything.”

Ever since Aston started talking to Hardaway last spring, she knew UTSA would be fortunate if she were to join the team. It just took time.

Now she’s in the flow, doing what she does best.

“It took her awhile to get comfortable in the system and with her teammates,” the coach said. “But I think she’s in a good place.

“We definitely need her to hunt shots, so to say, but make good decisions, which I think she’s doing right now.”

Records

Tulane (5-7)
UTSA (5-6)

Coming up

Tulane at UTSA, Tuesday, 1 p.m.
(American Conference opener for both teams)
UTSA at Temple, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Back from the break

Preparing to open defense of their championship, the Roadrunners haven’t played since Dec. 20 when they dropped a 70-65 decision in New York against Columbia.

“I think it was good for our players to get a little Christmas break and go home, get a little love and home cooking, probably, and come back with a refreshment, so to say,” Aston said. “I know that, it’s a quick turnaround, really.

“I mean, it wasn’t a long break, but it was enough for them to catch their breath, and it was much needed,” she added. “Looking forward to conference play. It’s something that you work towards — starting in the summer time. So, we’re anxious to get started.”

Notable

The Roadrunners (5-6) and the Green Wave (5-7) have a few things in common. First, both have played difficult non conference schedules. In addition, both have yet to hit their stride as a team.

UTSA has already lost one more game than it did all of last season in a 26-5 campaign. Tulane, under second-year coach Ashley Langford, has dropped six of its last nine.

Finally, UTSA and Tulane both can boast of a couple of talented players from the San Antonio area on their respective rosters.

The Roadrunners have guard/forward Mia Hammonds (from Steele) and forward Taylor Ross (Brennan), while the Wave will counter with Amira Mabry (Judson) and Jordyn Weaver (Wagner).

Ross is out for the season with an injury.

Both the UTSA women and men’s teams have personnel issues leading into conference. Aston said starting forward Idara Udo is questionable for the Tulane game. Udo did not play at Columbia. She made the trip but was in a walking boot.

UTSA coach Austin Claunch said it’s uncertain whether UTSA men’s team guard Vasean Allette will make the trip to Florida Atlantic for the conference opener Wednesday against the Owls (8-5).

Allette has yet to play for the Roadrunners (4-8).

Additionally, Claunch said guard Pierce Spencer is out for the season with a shoulder injury. He added that 7-foot center Stanley Borden, nursing a hand injury, is likely two weeks away from returning to practice.

Both the UTSA men and women are scheduled to play road games at Temple, in Philadelphia, on Saturday.

American men’s basketball: Tulsa leads the conference at No. 45 in NET rankings

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Competition in American Conference men’s and women’s basketball starts this week. Here are the national rankings for each of the men’s teams based on Sunday’s listings in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET):

Men’s basketball

1) Tulsa
NET: 45
Record: 12-1

2) South Florida
NET: 65
Record: 7-5

3) Wichita State
NET: 85
Record: 8-5

4) Florida Atlantic
NET: 103
Record: 8-5

5) UAB
NET: 113
Record: 9-4

6) Memphis
NET: 114
Record: 5-7

7) Temple
NET: 174
Record: 8-5

8) North Texas
NET: 179
Record: 9-4

9) Charlotte
NET: 182
Record: 6-7

10) Tulane
NET: 227
Record: 9-4

11) Rice
NET: 240
Record: 6-7

12) UTSA
NET: 300
Record: 4-8

13) East Carolina
NET: 303
Record: 5-8

This week’s schedule

Monday — Georgia College & State at South Florida, 3:30 p.m. (non conference)

Tuesday — Temple at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

Wednesday — Tulane at East Carolina, 11 a.m.; UTSA at FAU, noon; Rice at Tulsa, 1 p.m.; Wichita State at UAB, 3 p.m.; North Texas at Memphis, 3 p.m.

Saturday — UTSA at Temple, 11 a.m., Memphis at Rice, 2 p.m.; Wichita State at Charlotte, 5 p.m.

Sunday — UAB at South Florida, noon; FAU at Tulane, noon; Tulsa at North Texas, 3 p.m.

American women’s basketball: South Florida tops the field in NET rankings

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Competition in American Conference women’s and men’s basketball will get underway this week. Here are the national rankings for each team on the women’s side as published on Sunday morning, according to the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET):

Women’s basketball

1) South Florida
NET: 78
Record: 7-6

2) Rice
NET: 82
Record: 10-3

3) Temple
NET: 98
Record: 6-6

4) UAB
NET: 120
Record: 7-5

5) Tulsa
NET: 133
Record: 8-4

6) UTSA
NET: 134
Record: 5-6

7) North Texas
NET: 142
Record: 6-6

8) Charlotte
NET: 150
Record: 6-7

9) East Carolina
NET: 170
Record: 8-5

10) Tulane
NET: 177
Record: 5-7

11) Memphis
NET: 225
Record: 6-7

12) Florida Atlantic
NET: 229
Record: 6-6

13) Wichita State
NET: 284
Record: 3-10

This week’s schedule

Tuesday — Tulane at UTSA; 1 p.m.; UAB at East Carolina, 5 p.m.; North Texas at FAU, 6 p.m.; Rice at South Florida, 6 p.m.; Wichita State at Tulsa, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday — Memphis at Charlotte, 2 p.m.

Saturday — Memphis at East Carolina, 1 p.m.; Rice at FAU, 1 p.m.; UTSA at Temple, 1:30 p.m.; Tulane at Wichita State, 2 p.m.; UAB at Charlotte, 2 p.m.; North Texas at South Florida, 6 p.m.

Seattle men win 71-68, sending UTSA to a fifth straight loss

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Macaleab Rich. Seattle beat UTSA 71-68 in non-conference men's basketball on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Forward Macaleab Rich emerged as a bright spot in UTSA’s fifth straight loss as he scored a career-high 25 points on 11 of 15 shooting. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Austin Maurer and Brayden Maldonado stepped to the line and made two free throws apiece in the final 19 seconds Monday as the Seattle Redhawks survived a furious rally by the UTSA Roadrunners to win 71-68 at the Convocation Center.

After Maurer made his two freebies, UTSA’s Matheo Coffi scored on a layup to bring the Roadrunners to within one with 12 seconds left. But with 10 seconds remaining, Maldonado drove and drew a foul.

He hit both to boost Seattle into the final three-point lead. Subsequently, UTSA advanced the ball and called time out.

Seattle coach Chris Victor. Seattle beat UTSA 71-68 in non-conference men's basketball on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Seattle opened a 13-point halftime lead and then held off UTSA at the end, improving to 11-2 under fifth-year coach Chris Victor. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Inbounding with six seconds remaining, the Roadrunners set up a shot for Brent Moss, who misfired on a three just before the buzzer to seal the victory for the Redhawks.

“Disappointed with the outcome,” UTSA coach Austin Claunch said. “These guys (the Roadrunners) deserved to win, but so did they. It was a good college basketball game.”

Macaleab Rich scored a career-high 25 points and Jamir Simpson 20 for the Roadrunners, who lost their fifth straight.

Rich scored consistently from the low block, hitting 11 of 15 from the field. Simpson, coming off the bench, added five rebounds and a career-high six assists in one of his best efforts of the season.

For the Redhawks, Maldonado scored 15 and Jun Seok Yeo added 13 to lead four players in double figures.

“I’m proud of this team for finding a way to win,” Seattle coach Chris Victor said. “It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we had some tough guys step up and make big plays down the stretch.

“Our success in going 11-2 in non-conference play is because we’ve continued to improve every day, and that has to remain our focus as we head into (West Coast Conference) play.”

After lopsided losses to South Alabama, Alabama, Colorado and USC, UTSA’s second half against Seattle was encouraging moving forward.

Jamir Simpson. Seattle beat UTSA 71-68 in non-conference men's basketball on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA leading scorer Jamir Simpson came off the bench to produce 20 points, six assists and five rebounds. – Photo by Joe Alexander

The Roadrunners shot 51 percent after intermission against a team with wins on its record against Stanford and the University of Washington.

Trailing by 13 at intermission and by 14 with 18:54 remaining, the Roadrunners didn’t flinch, engineering a furious rally.

Near the end, Simpson hit a three to cap a streak of eight straight points as the Roadrunners surged to a 64-60 lead with 2:34 left.

“I thought Jamir really led us,” Claunch said. “Macaleab was very efficient, and I just thought as a team we created really good shots for each other. Sixteen assists (for the game). That wasn’t really there in the first half.

“Our offense really got clicking in the second half. We got to look to continue those things.”

In the end, Seattle just played with confidence and made a few more plays.

For the game, Maldonado was a constant nuisance to the Roadrunners, burying three 3-pointers. Yeo, who hit only five of 14 from the field, made the UTSA defense work with his movement without the ball.

Mauer finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, and forward Will Heimbrodt produced 10 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals.

Records

Seattle 11-2
UTSA 4-8

Coming up

x-UTSA at Florida Atlantic, Dec. 31, noon
x-American Conference opener

Matheo Coffi. Seattle beat UTSA 71-68 in non-conference men's basketball on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA freshman forward Matheo Coffi battled underneath for seven points and 10 rebounds. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Notable

The Roadrunners remain hopeful that guard Vasean Allette will play this year, but he has not seen action yet, sitting out all 12 games on the non-conference schedule.

Though he reportedly is practicing with the team and has been since early December, he did not warm up before tipoff against Seattle and was not on the bench during the game.

Allette, a transfer from TCU, remains on the team’s roster but hasn’t been seen at any home games thus far. He was regarded as UTSA’s top recruit out of the transfer portal.

UTSA’s five-game losing streak is one shy of the longest in a little more than one season under Coach Austin Claunch.

It started with a home loss to South Alabama and continued with setbacks on the road at nationally-ranked Alabama, and then at Colorado and USC. The deficits in the four games were by 24 points or more.

Even though the Roadrunners turned around and played well against Seattle, there was a noticeable letdown at the end when the final buzzer sounded. Claunch said the team remains confident with the road trip to FAU looming.

“We’re disappointed but we’re also confident in coming back and (getting) ready to work,” he said.

A new look

Austin Nunez. Seattle beat UTSA 71-68 in non-conference men's basketball on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Guard Austin Nunez returned to action after sitting out the USC game. He hit a three out of the corner in a 32-14 UTSA run during the second half that covered 14 minutes.- Photo by Joe Alexander

The Redhawks held the Roadrunners to 35 percent shooting and forced eight turnovers en route to a 37-24 halftime lead.

UTSA opened with a new-look starting five: Matheo Coffi and Macaleab Rich on the front line, with Austin Nunez, Dorian Hayes and Brent Moss in the backcourt.

Jamir Simpson, the Roadrunners’ leading scorer and a starter all season, played off the bench.

Six-foot-nine freshman Kaidon Rayfield, another regular UTSA starter, was on the bench in a sweat suit nursing an ankle injury and did not play.

The injury apparently is not serious. Rayfield was on the floor shooting a flurry of three pointers before the game, and so he is expected to be ready to play against FAU.

End-of-half woes

UTSA’s alternate lineup proved to be effective initially, holding the Redhawks to 40 percent shooting and trailing by only two in the first five minutes.

But with Seattle forcing turnovers and hitting the offensive glass for extra offensive possessions, the visitors soon started to pull away into double-digit leads.

In the final minutes, Rich muscled inside for a tip in to bring the Roadrunners within eight.

In response, the Redhawks answered with an offensive rebound and two free throws by Maurer and then a three pointer by Maldonado with four seconds left for a 13-point lead at the break.

UTSA’s hot streak

In one of their best streaks of the season, the Roadrunners outscored the Redhawks 32-14 in one 14-minute span in the second half.

It started after Seattle had taken a 46-32 lead with 16:20 remaining and ended with UTSA holding a 64-60 advantage with 2:32 left.

Simpson, a senior from Lima, Ohio, scored 12 points during the run.

UTSA held Seattle to one of 10 from the field during the early stages of the streak. In another segment, UTSA hit six of eight afield.

Macaleab Rich. Seattle beat UTSA 71-68 in non-conference men's basketball on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Macaleab Rich, a 6-7, 245-pound transfer from Kansas State, scored 14 of his season-high 25 points in the second half. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA men host Seattle in hopes of stopping a four-game skid

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners hope to break a four-game losing streak when they host the Seattle Redhawks in men’s college basketball Monday at 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

In the final non-conference game on the schedule before opening play in the American on Dec. 31 at Florida Atlantic, the Roadrunners will face a tough challenge.

Seattle, a member of the West Coast Conference, comes in with a 10-2 record, victories over two power conference teams and a top 100 standing in the NET rankings.

The visitors are listed at No. 94 on the NET. UTSA, at 4-7, with only two wins against NCAA Division I programs, carries a ranking of 308th among 365 teams in the nation.

Seattle, under fifth-year coach Chris Victor, hopes to use its fast start to create momentum toward play in the WCC.

In Victor’s first three seasons, the Redhawks finished 23-9, 20-12 and 23-14, before going 14-18 last year.

Last fall, they were picked eighth in the WCC, a league dominated recently by Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, Calif.

So far this season, Seattle has evolved into a force among mid majors, winning on the road at Stanford of the Atlantic Coast Conference and on a neutral site against Washington of the Big Ten.

In the Redhawks’ last game, played on Dec. 19, they beat the Huskies, 70-66, in a grind-it-out matchup of Seattle-based programs.

Seattle is a high-scoring team, averaging 81.8 points behind Brayden Maldonado, Will Heimbrodt and Gonzaga transfer Jun Seok Yeo. They shoot 51 percent from the field as a team.

Records

Seattle 10-2
UTSA 4-7

Coming up

Seattle at UTSA, Monday, 2 p.m.
x-UTSA at Florida Atlantic, Dec. 31, noon
x-American Conference opener

Notable

UTSA hasn’t won since Nov. 25 in Jacksonville, Fla., against Georgia Southern.

Since then, Coach Austin Claunch’s Roadrunners have lost at home against South Alabama and on the road against nationally-ranked Alabama, Colorado and Southern Cal.

In their last game, played last Wednesday in Los Angeles, the Roadrunners played on mostly even terms with the Trojans for the first 17 minutes. After that, USC rolled, claiming a 97-70 victory.

UTSA is looking for its first home win this season against a Division I program.

The Roadrunners are 2-2 at the Convo, with the wins against the College of Biblical Studies from Houston and Oklahoma-based Southwestern Christian (Okla.)

Columbia women rally late to beat UTSA, 70-65, in New York City

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The defending Ivy League champion Columbia Lions erased a six-point deficit in the final three minutes and defeated the UTSA Roadrunners 70-65 on Saturday afternoon in New York City.

In a women’s college basketball game that was hotly contested from the opening tip, the Lions outscored the Roadrunners 11-0 in the last three minutes to win on their home court.

The emotions boiled over in the final seconds as UTSA coach Karen Aston was hit with a technical foul for having words with one of the referees.

“I thought we played really hard,” Aston said on the team’s radio broadcast. “We probably had some fatigue mistakes there late in the game, and there’s nothing we can do about that.

“You know, the turnovers we had late were probably from fatigue, to be honest with you. They’re just going to have to learn how to handle that.”

The game seemed to turn inexorably in the Lions’ favor with less than 40 seconds remaining when UTSA guard Ereauna Hardaway drove to the basket, trying break to a tie score.

Columbia guard Fliss Henderson blocked the shot and sent the action the other way.

On the attack, Columbia’s Perri Page passed to Henderson, who sank a layup, giving the Lions a two-point advantage at 67-65 with five seconds left.

During the ensuing timeout, Aston was hit with a technical foul.

Columbia was awarded free throws, and Riley Weiss made one of two for a three point spread.

The Lions were also awarded possession, which resulted in Weiss going to the line again to make both for the game’s final points.

Guard Marija Avlijas scored 21 to lead five Columbia players in double figures. Weiss added 16 for the Lions, who improved to 8-4 on the season.

The Roadrunners had a two-game winning streak snapped and fell to 5-6. For UTSA, the loss was a heartbreaker.

Playing without starting forward Idara Udo, the Roadrunners built an eight-point halftime lead and had a chance to beat a team that has played in the last two NCAA tournaments.

They had a chance to record a signature victory against a team listed at No. 70 in the NET rankings. But, in the end, they couldn’t hold on.

Guard Ereauna Hardaway led the Roadrunners with 17 points, seven assists and six rebounds. It was her fourth straight game in double figures.

Forward Cheyenne Rowe hit seven of 11 from the field and scored 15 among four players in double figures. Guards Damara Allen scored 12 and Jayda Holiman 10.

Records

UTSA 5-6
Columbia 8-4

Coming up

Tulane at UTSA, Dec. 30, 1 p.m.
(American Conference opener)

First half

Playing without injured starting forward Idara Udo, the UTSA Roadrunners fell behind by nine points early and then rallied at the end for a 30-23 lead at halftime.

UTSA won the first 20 minutes with a defensive effort that resulted in 29 percent shooting and 14 turnovers by Columbia.

On the other end, senior guard Ereauna Hardaway led the way with eight points, including back-to-back 3-pointers to cap an 8-0 run in the final one minute and 30 seconds.

The Roadrunners shot 40 percent from the field and 28 percent from three, knocking down four of 14 shots from behind the arc.

Notable

Idara Udo‘s absence from the lineup was announced prior to tipoff when starting lineups were posted.

Emilia Dannebauer started on the front line for UTSA along with Cheyenne Rowe. The starting guards were Ereauna Hardaway, Damara Allen and Jayda Holiman.

Broadcasters on ESPN+ said the nature of Udo’s injury was undisclosed, but the television broadcast showed her on the bench with a walking boot.

The 6-foot junior from Plano was wearing the boot on Dec. 15 after she played in a home game against Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Without Udo, UTSA showed up at Columbia’s Levien Gym with nine players, and with only eight on scholarship.

UTSA women hoping for a signature victory today in New York City

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

On a trip to New York during the holidays, the UTSA women will get more than a chance to see the sights in the big city.

Coach Karen Aston. UTSA women's basketball lost to UNLV 66-39 on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA coach Karen Aston leads the Roadrunners into New York today to play the defending Ivy League champion Columbia Lions. – File photo by Joe Alexander

The defending champions in the American Conference have one last opportunity to produce a signature victory and boost their standing in the NCAA rankings before league play commences.

With tipoff set for noon today Central time, the defending Ivy League champion Columbia Lions will be waiting at Levien Gymnasium to test the Roadrunners.

UTSA coach Karen Aston said her players will need to be “on task” against a very good team.

“We’ll have to have a competitive mindset for 40 minutes,” she said.

Columbia finished 24-7 last season and made school history by winning its first NCAA tournament game.

The Lions defeated the Big Ten’s Washington Huskies in the Round of 68 before getting knocked out in the next round by the Big 12’s West Virginia Mountaineers.

This season, the Lions return six players from the NCAA squad, including their two leading scorers, guards Riley Weiss and Perri Page.

Columbia (7-4) has played a rigorous non-conference schedule and has been prone to inconsistency, but has won a few games against high major competition.

On opening night, the Lions won on the road, beating Butler of the Big East in Indianapolis.

Eleven days ago, they defeated another Big East team, the Seton Hall Pirates, on the road in South Orange, N.J.

Page hit the game-winning basket on a driving layup with one second remaining.

As a result, the Lions are 70th in the NET rankings of 363 NCAA Division I programs, with the Roadrunners (5-5) coming in at No. 148.

UTSA finished 26-5 last season and won the American at 17-1.

But this year has served as a challenge with a few stars playing out their eligibility, a few others transferring to other programs and more than a few talented athletes sitting out with injuries.

On top of all that, the Roadrunners have played four games, dropping all four, against power conference opponents.

The team’s best wins have come on a neutral site (in Frisco) against Grand Canyon Lopes of the Mountain West and at home against the Sun Belt’s Texas State Bobcats.

UTSA enters today’s game coming off home victories over Prairie View A&M and NCAA Division II Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Records

UTSA 5-5
Columbia 7-4

Coming up

Tulane at UTSA, Dec. 30, 1 p.m.

USC men rally to hand UTSA its fourth straight loss, 97-70

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Out-hustled for most of the first half, the USC Trojans responded Wednesday night by scoring the last 13 points before intermission, on their way to an easy 97-70 victory over the UTSA Roadrunners.

USC (11-1) of the Big Ten Conference shot 59 percent from the field and outscored the visiting team from Texas 57-39 in the second half en route to its third straight win.

Senior forward Ezra Ausar led the Trojans with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Chad Baker-Mazara, who played in the Final Four last year with Auburn, had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists.

USC entered the week receiving votes, just behind the Top 25, in the Associated Press poll. The Trojans entered Wednesday night’s game at the Galen Center 39th in the NET rankings.

Playing without starting guard Austin Nunez, UTSA (4-7) lost its fourth straight despite the efforts of Jamir Simpson, Brett Moss and Kaidon Rayfield. Simpson and Moss scored 16 points each and Rayfield 14.

The Roadrunners started off the game well, crashing the boards and creating a few turnovers, but they failed to slow down the pace when the momentum turned.

As a result, their losing streak has reached four games, with all of the scoring margins by 24 points or more.

UTSA will now return home to San Antonio with one home game remaining (Monday against Seattle) before the start of conference play in the American.

The Roadrunners’ last win came on Nov. 25 in Jacksonville, Fla., when they beat the Georgia Southern Eagles, 77-64.

In the losing streak, they started it off with the South Alabama Jaguars, who beat the ‘Runners 82-58 at the Convocation Center.

Subsequently, they took to the road for three straight against power conference opponents and dropped all three, falling to nationally-ranked Alabama, 97-55; to Colorado, 88-64 and now to USC.

Against the Trojans, they played well enough to win for the first 17 minutes and then went flat. The Roadrunners finished by shooting 34.9 percent from the field and 25.9 percent from three.

UTSA hit seven of 27 from behind the arc.

In the USC camp, the Trojans announced on game day that high-scoring guard Rodney Rice would be lost for the season.

On the other hand, it was reported that freshman guard Alijah Arenas could be getting ready to play after sitting out the first 12 games.

It didn’t seem to matter either way for the Trojans, who blew out the Roadrunners and led by as many as 29 points late in the game.

Records

UTSA 4-7
USC 11-1

Coming up

Seattle at UTSA, Monday, 2 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners finished their non-conference run against power conference teams at 0-3 this season, extending the program’s losing streak against the majors to 31 games.

UTSA hasn’t won against a power conference team (Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, ACC or Pac 12) since beating Iowa on the road in November of 2009.

With Nunez out, Moss started in his place on a guard line that included Dorian Hayes and Simpson. Daniel Akitoby started along with Kaidon Rayfield on the front line.

Akitoby finished with four points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes. Freshman Matheo Coffi, a frontcourt starter most of the season, came off the bench. He finished with zero points and four rebounds.

First half

The Trojans picked up the intensity in the final minutes of the half, overcoming a four-point deficit to take a 40-31 lead at intermission.

For the first 17 minutes in the half, the Roadrunners used a strong performance on the boards to play the Trojans mostly on even terms.

Moss hit a jumper and Jamir Simpson added two free throws to lift UTSA into a 31-27 advantage with less than four minutes remaining.

From there, the Trojans retaliated with their best effort of the night.

Forcing the pace with their defense on one end, they hit five of eight shots on the other.

The Trojans capped the run in the final minute with a 6-0 streak. Chad Baker-Mazara started it by picking up a steal. Later, he snared an offensive rebound and followed it in.

After a miss by Akitoby, junior guard Jordan Marsh responded on the other end with a three-pointer.

USC’s defense stepped up again as Ryan Cornish got a steal off UTSA’s Jamir Simpson, which led to a driving layup by Marsh with 27 seconds left.

UTSA turned it over again on its last possession, but USC’s Terrence Williams II missed a three at the buzzer.