Failing to score a point within the last three minutes of the game, UTSA lost to Tulane University 61-60 Wednesday at the Convocation Center.
Despite leading by as many as 15 points within the game, the Roadrunners (10-12, 4-6 AAC) found themselves up by four with one minute left in regulation. Allowing the Green Wave (13-10, 7-3 AAC) to remain in the contest through a 10-0 scoring run in the final three minutes, the ‘Runners played keep away for the entirety of their final possessions.
Operating without their star senior guard Primo Spears, the team was led in scoring by sophomore guard Marcus Millender, who notched 28 points in a new career high. The performance bested the guard’s previous 25-point career performance against Rice University, but it failed to aid in UTSA’s pursuit of a victory.
“It’s a tough loss. I have to give Tulane a lot of credit,” coach Austin Claunch said. “They made more game-winning plays than we did in the end.”
“Down the stretch, we slowed down the offense a little bit,” Millender said. “We didn’t even score in the last minutes.”
A quick kick-out three to senior guard Raekwon Horton fell short of the rim, prompting Tulane to race down the court and knock down a corner triple to bring the game within one. Once again looking to kill time, UTSA put the ball in Millender’s hands, where he left a three-point attempt short of the rim.
“You want to milk some possessions,” Claunch said. “I think they (Tulane) made us a little bit hesitant. It just got late in the clock and we weren’t able to get good looks at the rim.”
Coming out of a timeout, Tulane held possession with just 11 seconds left in the half. Green Wave guard Rowan Brumbaugh drove to the paint, collecting a foul but missing the shot attempt. His two free-throw makes gave Tulane the lead at 61-60 with only two seconds left. With no choice but to launch a shot attempt, graduate guard Damari Monsanto shot the potential game-winning three, which again fell short.
“We have to do a better job of manufacturing some plays,” Claunch claimed. “If we get a stop, it’s a completely different feeling.”
The first half saw the ‘Runners jump out to an early lead thanks to the scoring performance of Millender. Hitting a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc and scoring 16 opening-period points, the guard helped extend the lead for UTSA. The team finished the first half besting the Green Wave 33-25.
The Roadrunners finished the game shooting 32% from the floor and only 25% from beyond the arc. Winning the rebounding battle by three and only committing 10 turnovers to Tulane’s 16, UTSA bested the Green Wave in nearly every statistical category.
UTSA will host East Carolina University on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
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