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                The ‘Runners would use a 16-3 spurt in the middle of the 2nd half to take control of the contest. Guard Primo Spears would drill two three-pointers & Marcus “Smurf” Millender would also add 6 more points during the run to pad UTSA’s lead. The pair of guards would lead the offensive onslaught, combining for 50 points, 25 each, to lead UTSA.

For the game Millender would shoot a blistering 9 of 10 from the field, also firing in 3 of 4 from behind the arc. Spears would also do damage and mostly from beyond deep, connecting on six three-pointers (6 of 9), as UTSA would cruise to the 84-56 win.

Finishing opponents has not been a staple of the Roadrunners this season, but over the final five minutes, the ‘Runners would remain locked in on both ends, getting baskets and clamping down on defense.

Head Coach Austin Claunch made sure that the team finished the job.

“I’m not gonna tell you what I told these two (referencing Spears & Millender). I just thought throughout the course of the last eight, ten to twelve minutes, we had incredible just attention to detail on getting stops, but lets go run it be aggressive. When we don’t lets flow into offense, it was perfect.”

UTSA would pick up the offensive pace in the second twenty minutes. As a team, shooting 48% from the field, and going 14 of 32 from the three-point line. Spears & Millender sank 9 of the three-point makes. Respectively, with six and three each.

As the offense struggled to find it’s rhythm in the first half, UTSA showed signs of life closing the period on a 12-4 run over the final four minutes. It would give them a 31-23 lead at intermission. Milender, Jonnivius Smith, and Spears would all hit buckets helping UTSA to their largest lead in the first half action at eight points.

Defensively, the ‘Runners forced the Owls into nearly twice as many turnovers. Rice committed 13 errors, while UTSA protected the rock, only finishing with 7. Additionally, the defense held Rice to 4 of 22 (18%) from beyond the arc.

UTSA moves to 11-17 overall and 5-11 in AAC play. While Rice falls to 13-17 and 4-13 in conference play. The ‘Runners next face, the 18th ranked Memphis Tigers, with a 6 p.m. tip-off from the Convocation center.