A thrilling moment from the game where UTSA faced East Carolina, highlighting the intense competition.
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Sponsor Our ArticlesThe UTSA men’s basketball team concludes their season with a narrow 70-65 loss to East Carolina in the American Athletic Conference Championships. The match was marked by multiple lead changes, a strong performance from Marcus Millender, and showcased the team’s growth under Coach Austin Claunch. Despite the defeat, the Roadrunners showed resilience after facing injuries throughout the season.
In a gripping showdown at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, the UTSA men’s basketball team wrapped up their season with a tough 70-65 defeat against the East Carolina Pirates in the second round of the American Athletic Conference Basketball Championships. With this loss, the Roadrunners finished their season with a record of 12 wins and 19 losses, marking the most victories for the program since the 2020-21 season.
As the 11th seed, UTSA faced a challenging matchup against the sixth-seeded East Carolina squad, which boasted a season record of 19-13. The game was anything but straightforward, featuring a thrilling contest with six ties and seven lead changes, leaving fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
The Roadrunners kicked off the game strong, but a rapid 7-0 run from East Carolina soon turned the tide as UTSA found themselves in a first-half deficit. However, the team fought back valiantly, led by standout performances from players like Marcus Millender, Damari Monsanto, and Primo Spears, who hit key long-range shots to keep the game competitive. At one point, East Carolina held an eight-point advantage, but a determined putback layup from Jonnivius Smith helped cut the score to a narrow 20-19 deficit for UTSA.
As the first half drew to a close, East Carolina maintained a slim lead, finishing at 34-28 thanks to back-to-back baskets by Jordan Riley. An unexpected twist came just before halftime when a technical foul was called against East Carolina’s CJ Walker, allowing UTSA to snag a couple of free points.
The second half saw UTSA regroup and narrow the deficit to just three points shortly after the break. Three-pointers from Monsanto and a layup from David Hermes had the Roadrunners chipping away at East Carolina’s lead. Soon, the scoreboard lit up with a tied game at 45-44, thanks in part to another three-pointer from Monsanto.
The excitement continued to build with numerous lead changes and a jaw-dropping four ties in the second half. The Roadrunners managed to establish their last lead of the night after Millender drove in for a layup with only 1:16 remaining. Just when it seemed like UTSA might pull off a miraculous win, East Carolina’s R.J. Felton hit a clutch jumper, regaining the lead for the Pirates.
In those nail-biting final seconds, East Carolina stretched their lead to four points. Millender drove for a late layup, but a missed free throw by Smith provided the Pirates with a crucial opportunity to secure their victory, which they did with a final dunk by Jayshayne Woodard.
Millender led the Roadrunners with an impressive 24 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, while Spears contributed 19 points and five assists, in what turned out to be his final collegiate game. Monsanto was no slouch either, adding 17 points, with a massive five three-pointers along with seven rebounds to his name. Smith, meanwhile, put in a strong effort on the boards with 14 rebounds and two blocks.
This year marked the first season under new head coach Austin Claunch and while it ended in disappointment, there were plenty of bright spots for the team to build upon moving forward. Despite dealing with numerous injuries and player absences throughout the season, Claunch expressed sincere pride in the resilience shown by his team.
Seniors like Spears reflected on the season as a significant bonding time for the team, and with a seven-man rotation, only Millender and Monsanto played the full 40 minutes of the game. As the Roadrunners look ahead, there is hope for the future, thanks to the strong foundation laid by the departing seniors and the lessons learned throughout a rollercoaster season.
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