SAN ANTONIO — UTSA men’s basketball allowed 34 points off turnovers in its 81-58 loss to the University of North Texas on Saturday at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners (4-19, 0-11 AC) and Mean Green (13-11, 4-7 AC) played a tight opening half, with UTSA leading by three with a little over five minutes remaining in the period. North Texas proceeded to embark on a 25-0 scoring run that began with 3:31 left in the first half and remained unbroken until there was 17:03 left in the game. The UTSA offense — primarily guards junior Austin Nunez and senior Jamir Simpson — put together some points late in the game to dress up the scoreboard.
“We had a terrible last two minutes of the first half and a horrendous effort in the second half,” head coach Austin Claunch said after the game. “Embarrassing. This is the most embarrassed I’ve ever been. It’s unacceptable on my end. We have to be better on Wednesday.”
Simpson and sophomore forward Baboucarr Njie led the team in scoring in the first half with nine and eight points, respectively. The Roadrunner duo helped UTSA match pace with North Texas in the first half, as well as spot buckets from junior guard Brent Moss. North Texas scored 19 of its 34 first half points off turnovers, and they closed out the half by shutting down UTSA on offense.
“For the first time we looked like a team that’s lost 16 games in a row,” Claunch said.
The second half was more of the same story for UTSA. Simpson and Nunez added eight points each, and freshman forward Kaidon Rayfield added nine. The Roadrunners never made it close and remain winless in conference play.
Simpson led in points with 17, and Njie followed with 11. Graduate guard LJ Brown led in rebounds with six while Nunez led in assists with five. Nunez had to be helped off the court after landing awkwardly attempting a dunk, but he is “okay,” according to Claunch.
UTSA will face East Carolina University next at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Williams Arena.
