Tag Archives: UTSA Roadrunners

On a mission: UTSA women carry a winning record into AAC play

Posted on by
Sidney Love. UTSA beat UTEP 90-66 in women's basketball at the Convocation Center on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA sophomore point guard Sidney Love averages 12.2 points to lead UTSA in scoring. She also shoots 87 percent at the free-throw line to lead the American Athletic Conference. -File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

History beckons for a surprisingly resilient UTSA women’s basketball team preparing to take its first steps on a hardwood court in the American Athletic Conference.

Transitioning to the AAC after 10 seasons in Conference USA, the well-traveled and road-tested Roadrunners (6-5) will carry a winning record into a two-game AAC road swing.

They’ll play Saturday in Philadelphia against the Temple Owls (6-6) and Tuesday in Greenville, N.C., against the East Carolina Pirates (7-3).

Kyra White. UTSA beat New Mexico State 58-55 in women's basketball on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Kyra White ranks among UTSA team leaders in scoring (10.6), rebounding (5.5) and assists (4.1).- File photo by Joe Alexander

“I’m excited to start American play,” UTSA coach Karen Aston said Thursday afternoon. “It’s always exciting to get to a place where the stakes are higher … I’m excited to get it started.”

Like UTSA, both Temple and East Carolina are programs that have seen hard times recently and have taken steps to upgrade.

Aston understands the challenge that awaits.

“These road games, you can look at it two different ways,” she said. “I mean, we do start (conference) on the road against experienced teams that have kind of taken their lumps in the American, and now they’re on the other side of it.

“But on the flip side, the good thing about it is, we get these out of the way when we’re not in school. I think that’s a huge factor for us.”

As one of six new women’s basketball programs in the AAC, UTSA is no longer the cupcake on everyone’s NCAA Division I schedule.

In fact, the Roadrunners have six victories against D-I competition and have registered a winning overall record at the Christmas break for the first time in 10 years.

Coming off eight straight losing seasons, the Roadrunners are listed at No. 144 in the NET rankings, which puts them in the top half of programs in Division I.

For the fans, it’s been remarkable to see the dramatic changes under Aston, who is in her third year as coach.

“Like night and day,” UTSA senior Kyleigh McGuire said in a Dec. 13 interview. “When coach Karen came in here, she had a mission, and she recruited people and staff that fit into that plan and would buy in at 100 percent — and never let up.”

Led by guards Sidney Love and Kyra White and center Elyssa Coleman, the team has veteran talent and savvy at those three key positions.

Elyssa Coleman. UTSA beat UTEP 90-66 in women's basketball at the Convocation Center on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Center Elyssa Coleman has emerged in her junior year as a force inside with 10.3 points per game, all while leading UTSA in rebounding (7.4) and blocks (1.7). – File photo by Joe Alexander

In addition, the Roadrunners also are getting major contributions from two freshmen in guard Aysia Proctor and forward Idara Udo.

Forward Jordyn Jenkins, the Player of the Year in Conference USA last season, hasn’t played yet due to a knee injury. But, her absence from the lineup hasn’t had too much of a negative effect on the team, all things considered.

In four games against Power 5 competition, UTSA came out of it winless at 0-4, but three of the losses were by single digits. Once, the lost by five at Texas Tech. On another day, they lost at home by two to Houston.

Also, road games haven’t bothered them too much. They’re 4-3 record on the road so far. Before Christmas, the Roadrunners took on a daunting challenge with two games in the north west corner of the United States and came out of it with a split.

Despite poor shooting, they were within five points against the Pac-12’s Oregon Ducks with four minutes remaining, couldn’t sustain the momentum and lost by 13. A few days later, playing at Seattle, they jumped out to an early lead, ballooned it to 23 in the second half and eventually downed the Seattle Redhawks, 75-64.

Granted the RedHawks are 1-9, but this time two or three years ago, the Roadrunners weren’t winning many games on the road against anyone.

“It’s always good to win your last game before you go home for the holidays,” Aston said of the victory at Seattle. “It always bodes well for the break and how you feel about taking a few days off. I think the break was much needed for us. We had a lot of travel in nonconference play.

Aysia Proctor. UTSA beat UTEP 90-66 in women's basketball at the Convocation Center on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA freshman Aysia Proctor from Clemens High School has supplied scoring (9.4) and rebounding (5.5) off the bench. She also isn’t shy about playing on the road, as she scored 20 points at Oregon. – Photo by Joe Alexander

“I thought we had a chance at Oregon, so it was disappointing we didn’t take advantage of that opportunity. But on the other side of it, when I watched the film, I thought we did some really good things. We just didn’t make shots.”

Rebounding kept UTSA close against Oregon, as it has all season.

“A lot of that was because we didn’t make shots and we had a lot of offensive rebounds,” the coach said. “But, they’re big. They have size. We haven’t seen anything like that. It was a little bit shocking in the beginning, but we adjusted in the second half.

“You know, there’s been a couple of these games that, had we showed up a little better in the first half, we’d have had a chance to win.”

Perhaps most promising for the Roadrunners leading into AAC competition is the play of Proctor and Udo, the two precocious freshmen.

Proctor, a 5-8 guard from San Antonio-area Clemens High School, is averaging 9.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22.1 minutes. She has scored in double figures in three straight games, including 19 against Houston and 20 against Oregon.

Against the Ducks, she was the only UTSA player shooting it with authority against a quality opponent, and she also pulled down 11 rebounds in the game.

Udo, a physical 6-1 post player from Plano, is averaging 6.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in 18.7 minutes. Against Seattle, she came off the bench for 19 points and nine rebounds.

“It’s always good to have more people in your rotation,” Aston said. “Those two have established themselves, definitely, in the rotation at this point.”

Aston said she is not surprised at how much the two freshmen have accomplished.

“Honestly, I thought they would contribute to our team,” the coach said. “We recruited players that maybe added something to the table that we didn’t have previously.

“I mean, Aysia can really score the ball, and she’s learning in all the other areas of the game. But the flat-out truth is, she can score the basketball. And we need somebody who can score it, and she adds that, and I thought she would.”

In many ways, both Proctor and Udo have softened the blow for the team in trying to make up for the loss of Jenkins.

Proctor has stepped in to establish herself as an offensive threat, a 50.5 percent shooter from the field, while Udo has held her own as a defender-rebounder who can also score.

Idara Udo (No. 25) had a key blocked shot with 7 seconds left. UTSA beat New Mexico State 58-55 in women's basketball on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Idara Udo had a key blocked shot with 7 seconds left as UTSA beat New Mexico State 58-55 on Nov. 10. – Filer photo by Joe Alexander

Aston lauded Udo’s work ethic.

“She’s taken advantage of the opportunity, and she has made the absolute most of it every single day,” the coach said. “What she does in the games is based on what she does every day in practice. I think that bodes well for her career.

“Anytime a player comes to play in practice every day, you can’t help but play ’em (in games).”

Notable

During UTSA’s game at Seattle on Dec. 19, an ESPN broadcaster described Jordyn Jenkins‘ playing status as “day to day.” Asked after practice on Thursday if anything was new on UTSA’s 20 points per-game scorer from last season, Aston declined comment. The coach has said previously that UTSA doesn’t want to rush anything in her rehabilitation. Jenkins, who has been described as a player with pro potential, injured her right knee in April.

UTSA leaders

Scoring

Sidney Love 12.2
Kyra White 10.6
Elyssa Coleman 10.3
Aysia Proctor 9.4

Field goal percentage

Aysia Proctor 50.5
Elyssa Coleman 44.0
Idara Udo 43.3
(35 or more attempts)

Three-point percentage

Siena Guttadauro 33.3
Kyra White 30.0
Sidney Love 24.0
(21 or more attempts)

Free-throw percentage

Sidney Love 87.0
Kyra White 64.7
Maya Linton 63.0
(17 or more attempts)

Rebounding

Elyssa Coleman 7.4
Idara Udo 6.4
Aysia Proctor 5.5
Kyra White 5.3

Assists

Kyra White 46
Sidney Love 33

Steals

Sidney Love 17
Maya Linton 15
Kyra White 10

Blocks

Elyssa Coleman 19
Kyra White 15
Idara Udo 12

Karen Aston. UTSA beat UTEP 90-66 in women's basketball at the Convocation Center on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Karen Aston’s UTSA Roadrunners will play the Temple Owls Saturday in Philadelphia in the program’s inaugural game in the American Athletic Conference. – File photo by Joe Alexander

.

Games in the American loom after UTSA routs Prairie View A&M

Posted on by
Jordan Ivy-Curry had 22 points and eight assists off the bench for UTSA in a 103-89 men's basketball victory over Prairie View A&M on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Jordan Ivy-Curry had 22 points and eight assists off the bench Thursday night as UTSA downed Prairie View A&M, 103-89. UTSA hosts UAB next Tuesday to open a new era in the American Athletic Conference. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Generally speaking, the UTSA Roadrunners were feeling pretty good about themselves Thursday night.

After all, they executed on both ends of the court, shot a season-high 55.4 percent from the field and romped past the Prairie View A&M Panthers, 103-89, at the Convocation Center.

Steve Henson. UTSA recorded a 103-89 men's basketball victory over Prairie View A&M on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Steve Henson’s UTSA Roadrunners focused on ball security and defense and came away with a 14-point victory over the Prairie View A&M Panthers. Henson said ‘it’s going to be tough every single night’ when his team starts play in the American next week. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Clearly, it was one of the team’s better performances of the season.

But at the same time, as much as the Roadrunners enjoyed the winning feeling, they were also feeling a bit antsy. Why? Just as they built a 28-point lead early in the second half, they frittered most of it away during an eight-minute stretch with a frustrating series of mistakes.

At one point, the Panthers rallied to within 10 with 5:44 remaining before they were slowed by the Roadrunners, who snapped a troublesome three-game losing streak.

UTSA coach Steve Henson didn’t spend much time at all during his post-game interview session dwelling on the lost lead.

For the most part, he lauded his team’s execution of the offense (with only 13 turnovers) and praised its defensive effort, especially in the first half.

But what he said about losing the lead seemed significant.

“When they were in their run, it was way too big (of) a run,” Henson said. “It snowballed on us. (We) turned it over four times in five possessions. They scored on all of those. (It) got their confidence up a little bit.”

One of the bright spots for UTSA was, as the coach said, a first half that ended with the Roadrunners leading, 52-32. Specifically, Henson liked his team’s brand of defense that limited the Panthers to 34 percent shooting from the field.

Another positive before the intermission centered on UTSA’s offensive execution. The pace was fast, and the Roadrunners handled it well, turning it over only six times — all while scoring at the rim and from the three-point arc.

Trey Edmonds. UTSA recorded a 103-89 men's basketball victory over Prairie View A&M on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Trey Edmonds scored 12 points for his second straight game in double figures for the Roadrunners. Edmonds has hit 8 of 11 from the field in his last two games.- Photo by Joe Alexander

“I liked the way the guys opened the first half,” the coach said.

Then again, the 8-minute and 21-second stretch in the second half when Prairie View outscored UTSA 28-10 did not sit well with the coach. Late in the run, Henson had to start making changes. First, he put Christian Tucker back in the ball game.

Later, he stopped play again to send both Jordan Ivy-Curry and Carlton Linguard Jr. back onto the floor. Finally, UTSA stifled the uprising when Tucker drove to the basket, drew a foul and knocked down two free throws.

Later, Tucker answered the call again when he buried a three from the wing off an assist from Ivy-Curry, boosting the Roadrunners back into a 15-point lead with 4:57 remaining. It was a pivotal moment, as the Panthers never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Henson said it was important for UTSA to win the ball game, period, to bring an end to the team’s second three-game skid of the season.

Within a span of nine days, the Roadrunners had lost by nine points in Arkansas to the Little Rock Trojans, by one in Oregon to the Oregon State Beavers and then by 10 at home to the Army Black Knights.

The last one may have hurt the most, because the Black Knights had not won a game on the road all season, and yet they held the Roadrunners to 31 percent shooting and 53 points on Dec. 21.

“We felt like we did some good things at Oregon State,” Henson said. “Obviously (we were) very disappointed with the result (and) the way we played against Army … We needed to make sure it didn’t bleed into the next game.”

Next up for UTSA is play in the American Athletic Conference. For its inaugural game in the AAC after 10 seasons in Conference USA, UTSA (6-7) hosts UAB (7-5) next Tuesday night at the Convocation Center.

“It’s going to be really tough every single night,” Henson said. “We know that. We don’t like our record right now, but the mindset is good. Our confidence is high enough. The chemistry is terrific. We think we can build the next three or four days and be ready to play good basketball against UAB.”

Against Prairie View, Ivy Curry led the UTSA attack with 22 points and eight assists. In all, six UTSA players finished in double figure scoring.

The others included Linguard Jr. and Tucker with 16 points apiece, Trey Edmonds with 12 and Isaiah Wyatt and Dre Fuller Jr. with 11 each. Chris Felix Jr. led the Panthers with 19 points. Linguard, who started next to Edmonds on the front line, enjoyed a solid overall game that included 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.

For the Roadrunners, it was their first 100-point game since they defeated Dallas Christian at home, 101-48, on Jan. 3, 2022.

Records

Prairie View A&M 5-7
UTSA 6-7

Coming up

UAB at UTSA, Tuesday, 8 p.m. (American Athletic Conference opener)

Notable

In the wake of the victory, the UTSA Roadrunners improved 20 spots in the NET rankings, moving up to No. 292 out of 362 Division I teams nationally. UTSA remains as the lowest rated team in the 14-team AAC on the NET computer, trailing Rice (219), UAB (217) and East Carolina (207) in the league’s bottom four. Leading the conference are FAU (6), Memphis (38) and SMU (52). After losing at UTSA, Prairie View of the Southwestern Athletic Conference dropped 20 spots to No. 259.

Coming into the game against Prairie View A&M, one-time walk-on Christian Tucker led UTSA in scoring at 13.1 points per game. He also led both the American Athletic Conference and the team in assists at 5.5 … Other scoring leaders were Isaiah Wyatt (10.5), Dre Fuller Jr. (10.2), Adante’ Holiman (9.9), Carlton Linguard Jr. (9.8) and PJ Carter (8.3).

Trey Edmonds (7.8 points, 6.7 rebounds) also entered the game as one of the team’s primary contributors. Jordan Ivy-Curry came in averaging 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Ivy-Curry has now played in three games since he became eligible based on a recent court-ordered injunction. A court in West Virginia ruled all players in the NCAA who had transferred twice or more in their careers were eligible immediately for the rest of the season.

First-half

The Roadrunners shot 55.9 percent from the field and raced to a 52-32 lead at halftime. The Panthers were within 22-17 on a Javontae Hopkins driving layup with 10:19 remaining. From there, it was all UTSA. The Roadrunners sprinted away on a 30-15 run to the intermission buzzer. Ivy-Curry, who struggled in his first home game of the season against Army, made amends with a strong performance. He had 13 points and five assists in 13 minutes. Linguard, another key player who struggled against Army, had eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Carlton Linguard Jr. UTSA recorded a 103-89 men's basketball victory over Prairie View A&M on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Carlton Linguard Jr. posted his third double double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Linguard also had three blocked shots. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Army registers first road win of the season against UTSA, 63-53

Posted on by

Center Abe Johnson punctuates Army’s victory at UTSA by rebounding a miss, leaking out to receive a long pass from Ryan Curry and then finishing with authority. – Video by Jerry Briggs

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The Army Black Knights traveled to San Antonio this week, hoping to discover that winning feeling going into their holiday break. Mission accomplished.

Holding a five-point lead at halftime, the Black Knights limited the UTSA Roadrunners to 24 percent shooting in the second half and rolled to a 63-53 victory at the Convocation Center.

Freshman Josh Scovens scored 25 points for the Black Knights, who improved to 3-9 on the season and to 1-5 on the road.

Steve Henson. UTSA men's basketball lost to Army 63-53 on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Steve Henson’s UTSA Roadrunners were humbled at home against Army, held to 53 points, their fewest in a game since March of 2022 when they scored 48 in a 59-48 home loss to the North Texas Mean Green. – Photo by Joe Alexander

“We’ve got a very young team, very inexperienced,” Army coach Kevin Kuwik said. “(But) we are getting better. We’ve played some good teams on the road, toe-to-toe, and haven’t been able to finish in the last four minutes. For these guys to fight the whole way through, to build a lead and then to show some toughness at the end when it got tighter, and then find a way to come through — I couldn’t be prouder.”

The Roadrunners, who fell to 5-7, including 4-2 at home, have been a good team this season when the 3-point shots fall. On average, they make 10 of 28 from long distance every game. Both the makes and the attempts rank among the national leaders. Against Army, though, they were mystifyingly bad, connecting on only 5 of 30 from three.

Trailing by five points at intermission, they went out after the break and hit only 2 for 17 from long distance to underscore what surely was one of the most disappointing losses of the season.

“I was equally disappointed (with us) defensively as I was with our shooting,” UTSA coach Steve Henson said. “Their defense is the type that, it’s always there. Pretty good contests. They’re a good help-and-recover team. They close out just short enough that you think you’ve got the shot, but yet there’s a hand up in the face. It wasn’t as if they were trying to chase us off the line entirely.

“They were just on a string,” Henson said. “I knew the shots would be a little more difficult than maybe they had been the last few ballgames.”

Trey Edmonds. UTSA men's basketball lost to Army 63-53 on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Trey Edmonds led the UTSA Roadrunners with a double double, 10 points and 10 rebounds against the Army Black Knights. – Photo by Joe Alexander

For the game, Army held UTSA to 31.1 percent shooting.

“I think we set the tone with some Army toughness,” Kuwik said. “I think that kind of surprised them a little bit. You look at us in the layup lines and we’re not the most athletic-looking bunch of dudes. We were 2-9 or whatever the heck we were. It’s easy to kind of let your guard down. And these guys are fighters, so I’m really proud.

“I think we surprised them, and once they figured it out, we didn’t let up.”

Scovens, a 6-foot-6 forward, was coming off a 31-point game on Sunday at home against the Stony Brook Seawolves in West Point, N.Y. He was as much of a handful as advertised against the Roadrunners, hitting eight of 16 from the field and seven of eight from the line. For good measure, Scovens was also two of five from three.

Together, Scovens and freshman point guard Ryan Curry (14 points) kept the Roadrunners from gaining any traction when they were trying to put a run together. Power forward Abe Johnson also had a big night with a double double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Johnson threw down a two-handed dunk near the end of the game when the Roadrunners were way down on the scoreboard and trying desperately to get back into it.

For UTSA, Christian Tucker, Trey Edmonds and Isaiah Wyatt all scored 10 points apiece to lead the Roadrunners. Jordan Ivy-Curry, in his first home game for the Roadrunners since the 2021-22 season, was held to two points and one assist in 21 minutes. He was one for seven from the field.

Adante’ Holiman and Isaiah Wyatt were a combined 4 for 13 from long distance. The rest of the team shot 1 for 17.

The performance by the Roadrunners likely came as something of a stunner to those close to the program who had seen the way they had played in a 66-65 loss on Sunday on the road at Oregon State. The Roadrunners also had good practices on Tuesday and Wednesday on their home floor.

Some at press row speculated that with a few days off for the holidays approaching, maybe the players’ focus wasn’t where it needed to be.

“We played like it,” Henson said. “No way of knowing, but it’s pretty disappointing. We had a good practice yesterday. Coaches said the warmup (on Thursday) was good. Our guys were locked in. But (after tipoff) we didn’t look like a team that was totally dialed in to win a game.”

Looking ahead, UTSA players will have a few days off for the holiday break before returning to practice on Dec. 26. In the last nonconference game on the schedule, the Roadrunners will host the Prairie View A&M Panthers Dec. 28.

The UAB Blazers will be in San Antonio on Jan. 2 to open the Roadrunners’ American Athletic Conference schedule.

Records

Army 3-9
UTSA 5-7

Coming up

Prairie View A&M at UTSA, Dec. 28, 7 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, American Athletic Conference opener, Jan. 2, 8 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners were throttled almost completely in the first 16 minutes of the second half, scoring only 15 points in that span. On a couple of occasions, their players would rise up on defense with five or six stops in a row, but with nobody hitting on the offensive end, they couldn’t mount any sort of a significant rally.

UTSA’s 53 points were a season low and the lowest number they had scored since they were held to 48 in a 59-48 home loss to North Texas on March 3, 2022. Previously this season, they had been limited to 62 twice, once in a 72-62 overtime road loss at Texas State and again in a 77-62 home loss to Jacksonville State (Ala).

First half

Two freshmen led the Black Knights to a 35-30 lead at halftime. Josh Scovens scored 14 points and Ryan Curry added nine of his 12 in the last five minutes of the half.

Scovens, a 6-6 forward, hit four of eight from the field as Curry, a 6-foot guard, knocked down four of five. Both hit a couple of three-point shots to account for four of five makes for the Black Knights.

UTSA could not get its drive-and-kick offensive game in gear. The Roadrunners shot 37.5 percent from the field and made only three of 13 from three, for 23.1 percent.

Carlton Linguard Jr. UTSA men's basketball lost to Army 63-53 on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA center Carlton Linguard Jr. blocked five shots against Army but scored only six points on three of 10 shooting from the field. He was zero for six from three. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Jordan Ivy-Cuurry. UTSA men's basketball lost to Army 63-53 on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Jordan Ivy-Curry and the UTSA Roadrunners will have a few days off for the holiday before returning to host the Prairie View A&M Panthers on Dec. 28. – Photo by Joe Alexander

New-look UTSA hosts Army tonight at the Convocation Center

Posted on by
Christian Tucker. UTSA defeated Incarnate Word (UIW) 90-80 in a non-conference men's basketball game at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Christian Tucker leads UTSA in scoring average (13.4) and assists (5.7) going into tonight’s game at home against Army West Point. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA’s last practice before the holiday break showcased a team that maybe doesn’t reflect its record. The Roadrunners are 5-6 as they prepare to host the Black Knights from Army West Point tonight at 7 at the Convocation Center.

Only four of their five victories have come against Division I competition, so, realistically speaking, much work remains to be done before the Roadrunners can assure themselves that they are ready to compete at a high level in the American Athletic Conference.

Massal Diouf. UTSA men's basketball beat Trinity 100-70 in an exhibition game on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Massal Diouf (at right) had 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots Sunday in UTSA’s 66-65 loss at Oregon State. – File photo by Joe Alexander.

In a Wednesday afternoon practice, though, the Roadrunners took a step in the right direction. It was a small step, but they looked fresh. Bouncy. On their toes. They showed off a pace-of-play dimension that wasn’t always evident a month or even a few weeks ago.

The five-on-five session featured guards Christian Tucker, Adante’ Holiman and recently-activated Jordan Ivy-Curry racing through traffic and kicking passes out to the perimeter for threes. Or dumping it off to big men for easy looks.

On one play, Holiman drove into the lane on a burst. Leaning forward and low to the court, the sophomore from Oklahoma lofted a left-handed pass above the rim for an alley-oop slam. In their last outing, the Roadrunners didn’t make enough of those plays to win. On Sunday, they fell in a heart-wrenching 66-65 road loss to the Oregon State Beavers.

The Roadrunners found themselves locked in a slower-paced, low-possession game against a Power 5 opponent in which they came up short by inches. Ivy-Curry couldn’t finish at the rim with five seconds left, and the Beavers walked off with the win despite trailing for three-fourths of the game.

Tucker, who leads the AAC in assists with 5.7 per game, said the Roadrunners are eager to turn the page after the loss.

“After the Oregon State game, obviously we were a little disappointed with the result,” he said. “”Looking back at it, we all know that we played really well. It was probably the most effort we’ve given in a game. But, we still didn’t get the result. (Now) we have a great opportunity to bounce back against Army. We’re all excited for that.”

For the first 10 games of the season, the Roadrunners played without Ivy-Curry, who was sitting out by NCAA rule after transferring twice in his career. Earlier this fall, UTSA appealed in hopes that the NCAA would grant him a waiver. No such luck. Two such appeals were turned down.

Now, thanks to a court case in West Virginia that went against the NCAA, Ivy-Curry and guard Juan Reyna were added to UTSA’s active roster last week. Reyna didn’t get in the game at Oregon State, but Ivy-Curry made an impact, producing 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

As a result, UTSA has hope with three of the quickest guards that they’ve had in recent years.

“We’ve been preaching to play a lot faster this year,” Tucker said. “I think we’re trying to take that into account, to get up and down a lot. Not putting our heads down when the other team scores. Just getting out in transition. It’s really good to have Juice back back. He can be a really good piece for us. He definitely can contribute to that fast-paced offense.”

Over the past week, the Roadrunners have had a few early wake-up calls and have spent quite a bit of time in airports. They traveled to Arkansas for a Dec. 13 game against the Little Rock Trojans and then returned to San Antonio the next day. Then after a few days of practice in San Antonio, they boarded a longer flight for Corvallis.

UTSA coach Steve Henson said players have handled it well.

“Both trips to and from were very long days,” Henson said. “But I thought (Tuesday’s) practice was very good. Maybe not quite as animated, not quite as vocal, but in the heat of the battle I thought it was a pretty good practice. I thought we got a lot done. Today (Wednesday) was better. More vocal. More intensity. A good competitive day. Two good days, actually.”

A subtle change in practice format came on Dec. 13 when Ivy-Curry put on a blue jersey, signifying that he would be running through drills as if he were in the playing rotation for games. A few days later, UTSA officials monitoring the court case were able to get clarity on whether to clear the ineligible players, giving Ivy-Curry and Reyna the opportunity to travel to Corvallis.

Henson said Ivy-Curry’s presence in workouts is noticeable.

“He does get from Point A to Point B very, very quickly,” the coach said. “He’s highly conditioned. In practices we’ve gone real long — intense, long practices — he really starts shining at the end of practices with his conditioning level so high. So, yeah, he gives us a spark in that regard.”

Records

Army 2-9
UTSA 5-6

Coming up

Army at UTSA, today, 7 p.m.
Prairie View A&M at UTSA, Dec. 28, 7 p.m.
UAB at UTSA (American Athletic Conference opener), Jan. 2, 8 p.m.

Notable

After a disappointing home loss to Jacksonville State, Ala. last month, UTSA guard Christian Tucker said he wanted to do more to help the team. He is making good on that vow by improving his three-point shooting. In the past three games, the Arizona native has knocked down nine of 14 shots from beyond the arc, boosting his accuracy rate to .412 percent for the season. He is a .311 shooter from three for his career.

Forward Massal Diouf has played only 97 minutes in 11 games this season, including only two minutes at Little Rock. But the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward from the Netherlands came alive a few days later at Oregon State with 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. More surprisingly, he hit five of six shots from the floor. Also, his rebounds and blocks were career highs. Henson said he encouraged Diouf to be ready, “and sure enough he got in there and helped us in so many ways.”

UTSA guard Juan Reyna fell and hit the floor in a drill in Wednesday’s practice, momentarily leaving the court to receive attention from a trainer. He later returned and finished the workout.

Reyna, a newcomer to the UTSA roster this season, said in an interview last week that he was born in San Antonio and attended Hutchins Elementary in the South San School District. Later, he attended Zamora Middle School and St. George Episcopal school before moving on for two years of high school at Antonian College Prep, where he played under coach Rudy Bernal.

Reyna finished high school at Duncanville, completing a prep career in which he won state in both private school basketball at Antonian and for Duncanville, a state-school power. In college, he attended Alabama State as a freshman (in 2021-22) and Campbell, S.C. (2022-23) before transferring in the offseason to UTSA. In high school, Reyna helped lead Antonian to a TAPPS state title in 2019. “So, there’s just a lot of pride playing here (in San Antonio, at UTSA),” he said.

When Reyna gets into a game for the Roadrunners, he will become one of only a handful of players from San Antonio high school boys basketball programs to play at UTSA. Two of them, Devin Brown (from South San West Campus) and Keith Horne (from Sam Houston), rank among the program’s all-time scoring leaders.

Army will arrive at the Convocation Center tonight with a team co-captain in guard Kwabena Davis from Steele High School in Cibolo. Another familiar face will be Army assistant coach Carson Cunningham, previously the head coach at the University of the Incarnate Word.

Army freshman Josh Scovens produced 31 points, seven assists and four steals Sunday in a 78-74 overtime loss at home to Stony Brook.

UTSA women roll into Christmas break with a winning record

Posted on by

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Bouncing back from a tough loss at Oregon, the UTSA Roadrunners’ women played suffocating defense for three quarters and scored a road game season-high for points in a 75-64 victory Tuesday afternoon over the Seattle Redhawks.

The Redhawks, down by 23 after three quarters, rallied to within nine with 1:55 remaining but came up short against the Roadrunners, who improved to 6-5 on the season and to 4-3 on the road. Seattle, playing out of the Western Athletic Conference, fell to 1-9.

UTSA’s post play proved to be too much for the home team to handle. Starting center Elyssa Coleman produced 18 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots. Freshman Idara Udo came off the bench to contribute 15 points and nine boards. Udo scored 12 in the second quarter when UTSA broke it open.

Through three quarters, UTSA’s defense kept Seattle from gaining any momentum, holding the Redhawks to 42 points on 32 percent shooting.

“Obviously, the last four or five minutes were pretty ugly, but that’s probably just attention span and just trying to get the game closed off and finishing it,” UTSA coach Karen Aston said on the team’s radio broadcast. “I thought we had some ticky-tack, little fouls toward the end of it, but I thought we kept our composure. Pretty good performance, overall.”

The team’s overall record at this stage of the schedule is significant for a number of reasons.

First of all, UTSA has a winning record without its best player having stepped foot on the court. Rehabilitating a knee injury, forward Jordyn Jenkins hasn’t played at all, and the Roadrunners still had a successful pre-Christmas run.

Second, the Roadrunners have done it with freshmen and sophomores contributing in a major way. Finally, from a historical standpoint, the UTSA women haven’t been above .500 at Christmas in a decade.

“We talked about this before the game,” Aston said, “that it’s been 10 years since UTSA has gone home for the Christmas break with a winning record. That’s a big deal.

“I mean, every time we step on the floor, we’re looking to do things that haven’t been done in awhile, and as we talk about all the time, move the needle for the program.

“Again, it’s been 2013-14 since we had a winning (record) prior to conference play, so that’s a big step for our team.”

Guard Julianna Walker was the hot hand for Seattle. She hit four 3-pointers and scored 17. Mya Moore scored 14 and Makayla Moore had 12.

Notable

After 10 seasons in Conference USA, the UTSA women will open play in the American Athletic Conference on Dec. 29 at Temple University, in Philadelphia.

They’ll be at East Carolina in Greenville, N.C., on Jan. 2 and then will be at home on Jan. 6 against Wichita State …

UTSA is trying to break a string of eight-straight seasons with sub-.500 records. UTSA hasn’t had a winning record since 2015 when they were 16-15 …

Although Power 5 opponents are 4-0 against UTSA this season, they haven’t blown out the Roadrunners in any of those games.

Arizona State of the Pac 12 downed UTSA 70-55 in Tempe on opening night. After that, the Roadrunners have been more than respectable in the next three meetings with teams from elite conferences.

In Lubbock, UTSA lost to Texas Tech of the Big 12 by five.

In a home game against Houston last week, UTSA’s fourth-quarter rally came up short in a 66-64 setback to another team from the Big 12.

And, finally, in Eugene, Ore., on Sunday afternoon, the Roadrunners were within five points with four minutes left before the Pac 12’s Oregon Ducks went on an 8-0 run to win, 61-48.

First half

Udo scored 12 of her 13 first-half points in a dominant second quarter for the Roadrunners, who played a more aggressive, physical style and opened a 39-28 halftime lead.

Udo, a freshman from Plano, hit four of five shots from the field and four of five also at the line in the quarter for perhaps her most explosive sequence of the season.

In less than three minutes through the 5:55 mark, Udo’s aggressive posture had the Redhawks in retreat. She hit a turnaround jumper, drew a foul and tossed in two free throws, scored on a put back and added a turnaround 12-footer for good measure.

As a result, the Roadrunners kept applying pressure and kicked the lead up to 16 points at one point. Sidney Love’s spinning layup made it 37-21 with 2:17 remaining.

Mya Moore kept the Redhawks in the game early, scoring eight of her nine first-half points in the opening period. Seattle trailed 16-15 as Moore grabbed the ball under the bucket following UTSA turnover and banked it in at the buzzer.

Oregon State escapes a spirited UTSA upset bid, 66-65

Posted on by

By Jerry Briggs
Special for the JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners were hoping to hear a referee’s whistle blow when guard Jordan Ivy-Curry drove to the basket with under 10 seconds left in Sunday’s game in Corvallis, Ore.

In the end, there was no foul called. Ivy-Curry’s layup attempt didn’t go in the bucket, and the Oregon State Beavers escaped with a 66-65 victory over the Roadrunners.

OSU’s Jordan Pope knocked down two free throws with 13 seconds left for what would be the last points of the ball game.

UTSA didn’t call time out, pushed the ball up the court and tried to make something happen. It didn’t work out, leaving the Roadrunners a field goal shy of what would have been their first win over a Power 5 opponent in 14 years.

“We had a couple of good opportunities there (at the end),” UTSA coach Steve Henson told radio voice Andy Everett. “We had a floater on the second-to-last possession that didn’t fall. Then with the game on the line, we came down (and) they kind of ran and jumped on Tuck (Christian Tucker).

“He passed it to Juice (Ivy-Curry). Juice had a strong attack. Did exactly what you’re supposed to do in that situation. (Tried to) attack the rim and draw a foul, and … would have loved to have seen him step to the free-throw line and win the ball game … but it didn’t happen.”

As a result, the Roadrunners lost for the 27th straight time against an opponent from one of the five major revenue-producing conferences.

They haven’t won a game against teams from the Pac-12, the Big 12, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big Ten or the SEC since 2009, in the 2009-10 season opener, when they beat the Big Ten’s Iowa Hawkeyes 62-50 in Iowa City.

It was Ivy-Curry’s first game of the season for UTSA after being announced as eligible on Saturday. He led the Roadrunners with 11 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Massal Diouf and Carlton Linguard Jr. had 10 points apiece. Diouf enjoyed a breakout performance with career bests of eight rebounds and four blocks.

Guard Jordan Pope paced the Beavers with 19 points. He knocked down three of four from three-point distance and was two for two — the last two of the game — at the line.

Records

UTSA 5-6
Oregon State 7-3

Coming up

Army West Point at UTSA, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners led the Beavers for 28 minutes and 40 seconds of the 40-minute game. They were up by as many as nine points when they took a 31-22 lead with 2:23 left in the first half. After that, the game tightened. There were seven ties and 13 lead changes.

Both Ivy-Curry and Juan Reyna for UTSA were eligible to play for the first time this season after sitting out the first 10 games on an NCAA transfer rule. Ivy-Curry played well with 11 points, five rebounds and seven assists in 25 minutes off the bench. He shot 5 for 11 from the field. Reyna did not play.

UTSA announced Ivy-Curry and Reyna as eligible on Saturday morning in the wake of a court challenge to an NCAA rule that mandates athletes in all sports sit out a year in residence if they transfer two or more times during their careers.

A former high school star at La Marque High School in the Houston area, Ivy-Curry played two years at UTSA, transferred and played one season at the University of the Pacific in 2022-23 and then transferred back to UTSA last summer. In his last season with the Roadrunners, in 2021-22, he averaged 13.9 points.

Sophomore guard Adante’ Holiman returned to game action after sitting out the last two with concussion symptoms. He was scoreless in 14 minutes on 0 for 1 shooting.

Oregon State improved to 7-0 at home this season and to 4-0 against UTSA all time.

Who is Jordan Pope? He is a 6-2 sophomore from Oakley, Calif. He has scored in double figures in all 10 of OSU’s games this season. His 19 points against the Roadrunners were his most since back-to-back games of 25 against Appalachian State and Nebraska last month. Pope was slumping recently, hitting only nine of 32 from the field in his last two games.

Oregon Ducks women pull away late and down UTSA, 61-48

Posted on by

By Jerry Briggs
For The JB Replay

The Oregon Ducks held UTSA scoreless for the last four minutes on Sunday and came away with a 61-48 victory in women’s college basketball over the UTSA Roadrunners.

With the game played at Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., the Ducks outscored the Roadrunners 8-0 down the stretch, improving to 8-3 on the season.

The Roadrunners shot a season-low 26 percent from the field and lost for the second straight game, both against Power 5 competition. With the setback, they fell to 5-5 going into another road game set for Tuesday afternoon at Seattle.

Guard Chance Gray led the Ducks with 14 points. Priscilla Williams had 13 and Grace VanSlooten 10. The threesome offset the Roadrunners on the boards, which they dominated, 57-36.

For the UTSA, freshman guard Aysia Proctor from San Antonio-area Clemens High School notched a double double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. UTSA hit only 20 of 77 shots from the field.

A momentum-turning sequence for Oregon came when the Ducks, leading by six points early in the fourth quarter, turned it over on consecutive possessions.

The Roadrunners came up empty on both chances, once on a missed three by Siena Guttadauro and the other on a Proctor turnover.

Oregon’s Sofia Bell responded by knocking down a three-point bucket, boosting the Ducks into a 51-42 lead with 7:16 remaining.

Undeterred, the Roadrunners kept attacking, scoring four straight points.

Sidney Love did the honors with a follow-up off an offensive rebound and two free throws, pulling UTSA to within 51-46. From there, the teams traded baskets, with Idara Udo hitting a shot shot with four minutes left to make it 53-48.

Records

UTSA 5-5
Oregon 8-3

Coming up

UTSA at Seattle, Tuesday, 2 p.m.

Third quarter

Six-foot-eight Phillipina Kyei converted on a three-point play with eight seconds left, boosting Oregon into a 45-37 lead.

UTSA’s Aysia Proctor scored six and grabbed four rebounds in the quarter to keep the Roadrunners in the game.

At one point, she was knocked down while making a shot and had to be helped off. Sidney Love entered to shoot the free throw for her. Later, Proctor returned and hit a bucket with 55 seconds left.

First half

Utilizing superior size, the Ducks limited the Roadrunners to eight points for the first 13 minutes of the game and then held off a surge to lead 26-20 at halftime.

Priscillia Williams scored six points and Grace VanSlooten had five in the half for Oregon.

Meanwhile, freshman Aysia Proctor came off the bench to produce 12 points and five rebounds as the Roadrunners stayed in contention.

Proctor sparked a 12-5 run down the stretch at the end of the second period.

In the first half, UTSA outrebounded Oregon 30-19 but failed to generate much on the offensive end, shooting 21.6 percent from the field.

After whirlwind of a week, Roadrunners are set to play Sunday at Oregon State

Posted on by
Jordan Ivy-Curry. Florida Atlantic beat UTSA 73-64 on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at the Convocation Center. - photo by Joe Alexander

Hard-charging guard Jordan Ivy-Curry is expected to play for the first time this season today at Oregon State. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

What a week it was. The UTSA Roadrunners will arrive on Sunday at Oregon State University as a team that is deeper and more talented, by quite a bit, than it was only a few days ago.

Guards Jordan Ivy-Curry and Juan Reyna have been cleared to play for the first time this season after sitting out the first 10 games under NCAA transfer rules.

After a hectic week when a court case in West Virginia yielded a result that led to the addition of Ivy-Curry and Reyna to the travel squad, coach Steve Henson acknowledged the upgrade on his roster.

UTSA coach Steve Henson. UTSA defeated Incarnate Word (UIW) 90-80 in a non-conference men's basketball game at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Coach Steve Henson on Saturday announced the addition of two players — Jordan Ivy-Curry and Juan Reyna — who will be eligible for the remainder of the season. Both had sat out the first 10 games of the season under transfer rules. – File photo by Joe Alexander

“To add a player (in Ivy-Curry) who was a good player (for us) at the Conference USA level, it’s a big shot in the arm,” the coach said.

Additionally, Adante’ Holiman is expected to return after sitting out the past two games with concussion symptoms.

Naturally, the two players making their season debuts are eager to see what they can do to help the Roadrunners (5-5) win a game against the Beavers (6-3) of the Pac-12 Conference.

“I know our team has been missing, like, a little energy,” Ivy-Curry said Saturday morning in San Antonio. “I feel like, with me and Juan, we’re energy guys … I feel like we can do a great job of bringing more defense to our team and more offense.

“I feel like we’re going to have a great year,” he added. “We want to pick this thing up, and get this thing moving.”

Reyna couldn’t hide his excitement during an interview after practice.

Asked how it felt to be a few hours away from boarding a commercial flight to Oregon, en route to the locale where he will play his first game for the Roadrunners, the San Antonio native and former standout at Antonian College Prep unleashed an ear-to-ear smile.

“It feels great,” Reyna said. “I honestly didn’t think I was going to be able to play this year. It just feels great to have an opportunity to help contribute. You know, to help this team win.”

UTSA released the news on Ivy-Curry and Reyna just after the start of a 9 a.m. practice on the team’s home court.

Afterward, Roadrunners Henson said newcomer Justin Thomas also had an opportunity to start playing in games, as well, and he declined.

Thomas, one of the most talented players on the squad, instead will sit out the remainder of the season. He will have two years of eligibility remaining, starting in 2024-25.

Ivy-Curry and Reyna are eligible for the rest of this season and for all of ’24-25, the coach added.

How did this all happen? Weren’t Ivy-Curry and Reyna expected to sit out the year? They were. So, what give? Here’s a brief explainer:

Out of the blue

From a federal courthouse in West Virginia, the news came rumbling out of the hills. Or, as Henson said, “out of the blue.”

Basketball coaches around NCAA Division I could hear the sound, metaphorically speaking, because it stood to make so much of a difference in the quality of their teams.

For Henson, he had more on the line than most.

The eighth-year coach of the Roadrunners had three talented players sitting out as multiple-time transfers who might be able to start suiting up in games depending on the outcome of the proceedings in an antitrust lawsuit.

Initially, on Wednesday, the news was good for Henson. Lawyers for the plaintiffs representing a coalition of seven states argued, essentially, that the transfer rule represented a restraint of trade. The judge agreed, and so he issued a temporary restraining order.

What did it mean? It meant that Henson and others in his profession might be able to start to playing players who otherwise might never have seen the floor this season.

The Roadrunners suddenly started to feel optimistic, like they might be able to start playing games with Ivy-Curry, Thomas and Reyna, all of them considered as two-time transfers.

But as so often happens in court proceedings, more drama and uncertainty ensued. The judge said previously ineligible players could only participate in games over a 14-day period.

Then came Thursday and more concerning news.

Word out of the NCAA was that players who played in games during the TRO might face consequences. News flashed that if the court reversed itself, then those players could be finished for the season after playing in only a few games.

By Friday, the cloudy skies cleared, so to speak. Representatives of the seven states filing the lawsuit huddled with officials from the NCAA.

Even though UTSA had nothing to do with the case, the Roadrunners benefited immensely from the meeting of the minds, which yielded an agreement.

The two sides would request from the judge an injunction that would allow athletes affected by the transfer rule to play in games through the end of the season without concern that they might be ruled ineligible.

The request for an injunction from both sides of the lawsuit apparently is expected to be granted by the court.

It’s a sweeping change that will affect dozens of players nationally.

“All these multi-year transfers (around the nation) are eligible,” Henson said. “You know, this thing changed three times during the week. And a couple of our kids, their decisions went back and forth.”

Henson recalled a moment in time on Wednesday when the team was in Little Rock, and he and his staff tried to figure out how to defend the Little Rock Trojans.

“They had a two-time transfer,” Henson said. “We thought he was going to play. Our guys (Ivy-Curry, Thomas and Reyna) weren’t on the trip with us. We literally joked about getting them a flight and getting them there by that night.”

Guard Juan Reyna works in a defensive drill during a Saturday morning practice at the UTSA Convocation Center. The San Antonio native and former standout player for Coach Rudy Bernal at Antonian College Prep has been cleared to play for the rest of the season.

Court action could clear pathway for UTSA’s Jordan Ivy-Curry and Justin Thomas to play

Posted on by
Jordan Ivy-Curry. A&M-Corpus Christi beat UTSA 77-58 on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, at the Convocation Center. - photo by Joe Alexander

Developments in a West Virginia court case could crack open an opportunity for guard Jordan Ivy-Curry and forward for Justin Thomas both to play this season for the UTSA Roadrunners. As it is, both are sitting out under NCAA transfer rules, which are now being contested legally. Ivy-Curry is shown here in a photo from 2021-22. – File Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
News analysis for The JB Replay

Will UTSA basketball players Jordan Ivy-Curry and Justin Thomas be allowed to play this year? Will they perhaps make the road trip to play at Oregon State on Sunday afternoon? An athletics department spokesman says in a text that he can’t confirm the members of the traveling party.

Meanwhile, UTSA coach Steve Henson could not immediately be reached for comment.

Justin Thomas. UTSA men's basketball practice on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Justin Thomas averaged 7.3 points and 4.4 rebounds last season for a 22-win team at Milwaukee, of the Horizon League. – Photo by Joe Alexander

But after a motion in a West Virginia-based court case was filed Friday to request an injunction allowing for multi-time transfers to compete in games through the end of the season, I suspect that the wheels might be in motion for the Roadrunners to suit up both athletes.

If it’s not this weekend, then it might not be long afterward.

Over the past few years, NCAA rules on transfers have changed. First-time transfers were given the chance to play immediately. But it was announced this summer that athletes transferring for a second time or more had to sit out a year in residence. In response, seven states including West Virginia have challenged the multiple-time rule.

The initial decision by Judge John Preston Bailey on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order allowing multi-time transfers to play within a 14-day window. In the past few days, the states and the NCAA agreed to pursue an injunction that would extend the protections for athletes hoping to play while the case was being decided.

The NCAA said in a statement issued to ESPN and other media outlets Friday saying that, “given the unprecedented decision by the courts earlier this week, the NCAA has reached an agreement with the states to convert the temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction through the remainder of the 2023-24 NCAA championship season.”

Apparently, the judge has not signed off on the request yet. But if it indeed happens, it could be a huge development for the Roadrunners. UTSA (5-5) is scheduled to play at Oregon State (6-3) on Sunday and at home against Army and Prairie View A&M by the end of the calendar year.

The program’s first season in the American Athletic Conference begins Jan. 2 at home against the UAB Blazers.

Ivy-Curry, who played at UTSA for two seasons from 2020-22 before transferring to the University of the Pacific last season, is a 6-foot-3 guard from La Marque. He’s an offensive firebrand who can hit the three and can slash to the bucket. He averaged double figures in scoring each of his last two seasons, one at UTSA and then another at Pacific in California.

The 6-foot-7 Thomas is a versatile player who averaged 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season for a 22-win team at Milwaukee, in the Horizon League. The Baton Rouge, La., native hit 42.9 percent from three. He looks like he could play shooting guard, but he is apparently being viewed as a small forward or power forward at UTSA.

Multi-time transfers for the Roadrunners include Ivy-Curry (who has played at UTSA, Pacific, and UTSA again), Thomas (Division II Queens University, N.C., Milwaukee, Wis., and UTSA) and guard Juan Reyna (Alabama State, Campbell, S.C., and UTSA).

I do not think that Reyna, formerly of Antonian High School, will play at UTSA this season. He apparently enrolled with a plan to redshirt in 2023-24 to further some long-range academic goals, so he apparently will continue to practice with the team as a walk on, with a plan to start his Roadrunners playing career in 2024-25.

As for Ivy-Curry and Thomas, they both probably would have been on the floor this season had it not been for the NCAA rule that is now being contested. But when both arrived at UTSA this summer, they knew the only way they could get into games right away would be if they received a waiver.

Ivy-Curry applied for one but reportedly had it rejected by the NCAA a few weeks ago. Now, because of the lawsuit filed by seven states on behalf of some other college athletes, Ivy-Curry and Thomas now both could be in a position to resume their careers soon if everything falls just right.

The story broke on Wednesday afternoon that Bailey had granted a restraining order. UTSA coaches and players were already in Little Rock, Ark., when the news stories started to be published on social media.

That night, the Roadrunners built a 14-point lead in the first half and then faded, eventually losing to the Trojans, 93-84.

Naturally, since Ivy-Curry and Thomas weren’t eligible when the team left town, they weren’t on the trip. In addition, guard Adante’ Holiman wasn’t there, either. He stayed home because of concussion symptoms.

But the fact remains that the Roadrunners, who had won three straight, simply ran out of steam and lost a game they could have won.

Another unsettling issue as they returned home on Thursday centered on the restraining order and what it would all mean. Coaches and players around the nation were all left wondering.

Initially, there was both confusion and trepidation about what would happen if teams played athletes affected by the ruling. For instance, Little Rock apparently had one player who had been sitting out like Ivy-Curry and Thomas, and he was on site. But the Trojans, only hours after the judge issued the restraining order, did not use him.

Adante' Holiman. UTSA beat McMurry 125-84 in a men's basketball exhibition game on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Sophomore guard Adante’ Holiman has been out the last two games because of concussion symptoms. His status for Sunday’s game at Oregon State is uncertain. But he did work out on his own late Thursday night. – Photo by Joe Alexander

It might have had something to do with rumblings from the NCAA that athletes who played games during the 14-day period might face a loss of a year’s eligibility if the decision was reversed. The thought was that the court might reverse itself in a hearing that had been set for Dec. 27.

Now, with the request for the injunction, athletes approved to play nationally will have 20 games or so to compete, plus postseason tournament games It’s apparently uncertain whether the Dec. 27 hearing will even be held.

“This action provides clarity for student-athletes and member schools for the remainder of the academic year — any multiple-time transfer student-athlete who competes this season will be subject to the same eligibility and use of a season of competition rules as all other student-athletes,” the NCAA said in its statement published in Metro News of West Virginia.

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels were among the first schools to take advantage of the reprieve.

UNLV played forward Keylan Boone, a multi-time transfer, in his first game of the season on Wednesday night shortly after the TRO was issued. Boone, whose twin brother is also on the squad, produced 10 points and six rebounds in the Rebels’ 79-64 victory over the eighth-ranked Creighton Blue Jays.

In the past few days, more teams including West Virginia have announced that previously ineligible players would become eligible to suit up for games.

As for UTSA, it’s not entirely clear what is going on in the Roadrunners’ camp. Apparently the call on Ivy-Curry and Thomas will be made collectively, decided by administrators, by the coaches and by the players and their families.

For Ivy-Curry and Thomas, the decision also needs to come fairly quickly. Because if conference play starts and a few weeks pass and their situations remain unsettled, then the two of them could be better off just waiting and starting over with a full slate of games in 2024-25.

I hope to learn more after a Saturday morning team practice.

Houston races to a 22-point lead and then holds off UTSA, 66-64

Posted on by

The Houston Cougars edged past the UTSA Roadrunners and freshman guard Aysia Proctor, who scored seven of her team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter. – Photo by Tony Morano, courtesy of UTSA athletics

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Other than playing an error-filled first half, the UTSA Roadrunners did just about everything that a team needed to do to win a basketball game. They showed hustle. They grappled on the floor with the Houston Cougars for loose balls.

They decisively won the battle under the back boards against a Power 5 opponent.

UTSA center Elyssa Coleman (left) battles Houston’s Djessira Diawara for possession. Coleman snared eight rebounds as the Roadrunners won the battle of the boards, 47-33. – Photo by Tony Morano, courtesy of UTSA athletics

On the offensive end, the Roadrunners knocked down clutch shots in the third and fourth quarters. In the end, though, it wasn’t quite enough as the Cougars built a 22-point lead in the first half and then somehow escaped with a 66-64 road victory at the Convocation Center.

“The obvious elephant in the room is that we got off to a tough start and just (made) too many turnovers … ,” UTSA coach Karen Aston said. “We talked about it at halftime. You know, our defense was fairly solid. I think we gave them some timely offensive rebounds and a couple of threes. But … they had 19 points in the half off turnovers.”

More specifically, Houston forced 16 first-half turnovers and outscored UTSA by a resounding 19-0 margin off the errors over the first two quarters. As a result, the Cougars juiced the lead to as many as 22 points three times. At intermission, it was a 20-point game.

Not to worry. In the second half, a Roadrunners team that has erased deficits of 11 and 15 points to win this year made a spirited run to get back in the game. At the end, they were looking at an eight-point deficit with 3:44 remaining — and still nearly pulled it out.

First, freshman guard Aysia Proctor and junior forward Elyssa Coleman made baskets to get the fans up on their feet. Kyra White’s elbow jumper with 50 seconds left turned the volume another notch higher.

UTSA guard Kyra White (right) faced intense defensive pressure and still produced 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. – Photo by Tony Morano, courtesy of UTSA athletics

Then, finally, Sidney Love splashed a three with 18 seconds left for one of the best moments in memory in the Convocation Center, with people standing, cheering and throwing their arms in the air. UTSA was down by just two. The program’s first victory over a P5 opponent in 13 years seemed within reach.

“I just felt like we were in the game,” said Proctor, who led the Roadrunners with 19 points on nine of 11 shooting from the field. “I just felt like we could win it. Our team was hyped. We were locked in.”

For the Roadrunners, it wasn’t meant to be.

On Houston’s next possession, three UTSA players were trapping and had a Cougars player cornered on the boundary and the halfcourt stripe. Cougars coach Ronald Hughey called time out, just in time, because it appeared that the Coogs’ ball handler was about to be whistled for traveling.

Ultimately, Houston inbounded again with seven seconds left, made a few passes and then ran out the clock. UTSA could have fouled at least the last Cougars player with the ball but didn’t, for some reason.

Sidney Love (right, with the ball) takes it to the rim with the left hand. She finished with 13 points. – Photo by Tony Morano, courtesy UTSA athletics

In trying to recall the moments that stood out for her at the end, Aston pinpointed a missed shot from close range by the Roadrunners and then a play on the other end when her team failed to box out, allowing the Cougars to snare an offensive rebound that led to a couple of Laila Blair free throws.

“We have players that understand that block outs are important,” Aston said. “I don’t have to go back and say you should have blocked out. But I do think that not fouling there at the very end…like, we didn’t have a grasp that we had to foul. We need to be better at that, for sure.”

Once-beaten Houston, ranked 69th in the nation in the NET computer rankings, is due a large amount of credit for hanging on when the game seemed to be slipping away. Particularly, the two free throws by Blair were momentous for Houston’s cause. Both Blair and N’Yah Boyd finished with 14 points apiece.

UTSA players also deserve credit for showing fortitude after such a poor first-half. Proctor’s nine for 11 shooting was one individual highlight. Another was the overall hustle and grit of White, who finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Love was another player in double figures with 13 points.

The Roadrunners entered the game 138th in the nation in the NET. Despite the loss, they might have helped their cause in the rankings because they held the Cougars to 20 points below their average. They also dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Coogs, 47-33.

Notable

A school spokesman said that if UTSA had won the game, it would have been the largest comeback in program history. On another historical note, UTSA hasn’t won a game against a Power 5 team since 2010 in a victory over Kansas State. The Roadrunners have lost 22 in a row in that span against teams from the five major revenue-producing conferences. The Cougars became a P5 program just this season when they started play in the Big 12.

First half

Pressing at every opportunity and forcing 16 turnovers, the Houston Cougars dominated the first half. They led by 10 points at the quarter and by 20 at intermission.

N’Yah Boyd scored all of her 11 first-half points in the second quarter as the Cougars opened a wide lead on the Roadrunners.

When UTSA pulled to within 11 at one juncture in the period, the Cougars sprinted away on a 12-1 run to open the first of three 22-point leads. Boyd capped the run with a driving layup and a three-point bucket.

Records

Houston 8-1
UTSA 5-4

Coming up

UTSA at Oregon, Sunday, 2 p.m.

JB’s video replay

Kyra White passes to Sidney Love, who hits a three with 12 seconds left to pull UTSA within two. Houston hung on to win 66-64 after leading by as many as 22 points in the first half.

After taking a cross-court pass from Sidney Love, freshman Aysia Proctor dribbles into the paint and sinks a 12 footer.

Kyra White finds open space and hits a three-pointer during first-half action against Houston.

Freshman Idara Udo takes it to the basket and scores for UTSA late in the second quarter.