Defensive exploits cost UTSA men’s basketball a crucial victory, as they fell to East Carolina 84-73 Saturday in the Convocation Center.
Despite a 14-point scoring night from guard Jordan Ivy-Curry, the Roadrunners were unable to stop the Pirates, as they allowed 13 total threes.
“Just a really disappointing start,” coach Steve Henson said of the game. “It’s extremely frustrating and disappointing.”
Trailing throughout the contest, UTSA (8-16, 2-9) failed to make the game a close one in the final 10 minutes.
Creating a key turnover, Roadrunner guard Christian Tucker knocked down a deep 3 to cut the deficit to 10 with two minutes left. Despite playing an aggressive man defense, ECU (11-12, 5-6) converted on a tough layup to push the lead back to 12. Despite a late drive from guard Jordan Ivy-Curry that pulled the team back within 10 with a minute remaining, a free throw from ECU forward Brandon Johnson would nullify the effort.
Desperate for any type of score, the Roadrunners turned the ball over on an inbounds play, which led to a transition layup for ECU with 35 seconds left. Another late turnover would end the game for the ‘Runners, as they fell to the Pirates 84-73.
“We just continue to not do enough things to give ourselves a chance,” Henson said. “It chips away at the locker room, you know.”
Ivy-Curry’s team-leading 14 points off the bench was the lone bright spot for UTSA. Guard PJ Carter also chipped in 12 points, including an and-1 play to start the second half.
“We have to have a quick mindset and just move on to the next opponent,” Carter said. “As a unit, we just have to buy in and stick close together.”
Scoring just two points in the first five minutes of the game, the ‘Runners struggled early against the Pirates. After allowing nine threes in the opening period, the team gave up 48 total first-half points while only putting up 25. Though no player scored more than five, nine Roadrunners managed to put points up on the board.
Leading the way for the team was Ivy-Curry, who contributed five points, including a late isolation step-back 3. Starting in a 1-3-1 zone defense, UTSA was quickly outmatched by the scoring ability of Pirates forward Brandon Johnson, who posted 21 points in the first period.
“We ran some 1-3-1, then halfway tried to match up in man,” Henson said of the defense. “We did a lot of switching; we lost Johnson too many times.”
UTSA will travel to North Carolina to play Charlotte at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Dale F. Halton Arena.
