Graduate guard Jamir Simpson posted 18 points in UTSA men’s basketball’s 61-50 loss to Abilene Christian University on Monday at John Hurst Adams Gymnasium.
After being outscored by 13 points in the first half, the Roadrunners (3-3) rallied and outscored the Wildcats (4-2) in the second half, but still failed to pull out the win. Simpson played a crucial role in the ‘Runners’ efforts, but he alone could not help UTSA overcome a poor shooting night from beyond the arc. The Roadrunners were more efficient from the field than the Wildcats, but the struggles from three — along with being out rebounded on the glass — sealed their fate.
Abilene Christian shot out to a 14-2 lead before UTSA clawed back, cutting their deficit down to six points. After a couple more buckets from the Wildcats, junior guards Brent Moss, Macaleab Rich and Simpson helped bring the game back within five. The Wildcats closed out the half on a 9-1 scoring run, with the lone score for the Roadrunners coming from junior guard Austin Nunez.
The Roadrunners came out the break with an uptick in scoring. Freshman forwards Matheo Coffi and Kaidon Rayfield, Rich and Simpson all found the net as UTSA brought its deficit down to just two points with a majority of the final half ahead. Abilene Christian was able to score consistently enough to ride its opening half cushion to a victory, widening the gap late with crucial shots from the charity stripe and three.
Simpson and Rich were the only Roadrunners to reach double digits with 18 and 10 points, respectively. Sophomore forward Baboucarr Njie led both teams in rebounds with nine, as well as tying for the game lead in blocks with two. UTSA had five players register one assist apiece, while Nunez snagged three steals. The ‘Runners shot 36.4% from the field and 20% from three.
UTSA will face Georgia Southern University at 8 p.m. Tuesday for the final game of the Jacksonville Classic at John Hurst Adams Gymnasium.
