’Runners continue hot streak with sweep

With most of the roster clicking at a high level, UTSA coach Steve Henson can see his team building confidence and trust through each passing game.

The Roadrunners have a new flow to their offense, Henson said, showing no hesitation to send a tough pass to a player rolling to the basket or kick out to an open shooter in the corner.

After an 86-75 win against FAU on Saturday in the Convocation Center, UTSA has won seven of its past eight games, looking primed for the Conference USA tournament with just four contests remaining in the regular season.

“Each game we get in the win column, that’s more fuel to the fire,” center Jacob Germany said. “We’re going to try to be one of those teams that gets hot at the right time and makes a deep run in the conference tournament.”

Henson said UTSA’s improved shooting in recent weeks has spurred the Roadrunners’ defense.

After guards Jhivvan Jackson and Keaton Wallace were leaned on to provide the bulk of the scoring the past two years, UTSA (12-9, 8-6 C-USA) has found a more balanced attack this season. Five players scored in double figures Saturday, as Jhivvan Jackson netted 20, Eric Parrish scored 15, Keaton Wallace had 14, Erik Czumbel had 11, and Cedrick Alley Jr. added 10.

When the teams first met Friday night, Germany stepped forward as the focal point of the offense, scoring a career-high 26 points. Germany finished just shy of double figures with nine points Saturday.

“When we have other people contributing, we’re a more wellrounded offense, and we’re a pretty good team,” Henson said. “That’s what we’re talking about: getting assists, getting paint touches, making the right play, not turning the ball over, giving yourself a chance to offensive rebound. I think we’re growing in that regard.”

Jackson, UTSA’s all-time career scoring leader, has emphasized since the preseason that defense needs to be the focal point for the Roadrunners to post a winning season after last year’s group finished a disappointing 13-19 overall, including a 7-11 mark in C-USA.

A few weeks ago, UTSA sported one of the conference’s worst defenses, sitting 5-8 overall and 1-5 in the league. Improvement on that end has sparked the Roadrunners’ turnaround, Jackson said, as UTSA has climbed to the middle of the pack in the league standings.

The Roadrunners held the Owls (8-9, 3-5) to 39.7 percent shooting Friday. Saturday, UTSA limited FAU to 45.2 percent with 15 turnovers.

“That’s our mentality every game, is to get some stops,” Jackson said. “Offense is going to take care of itself. We just have to win battles and be the tougher team every game.”

The Roadrunners trailed the Owls for less than three minutes between two meetings this weekend, leading throughout Saturday’s second half and holding a double-digit margin for all but a few seconds down the stretch.

UTSA next travels to face Charlotte (9-10, 5-6) on the road Friday and Saturday before returning home for the final two games of the regular season against UAB on Feb. 26-27.

UTSA is 10-1 in the Convocation Center this year, with the only loss coming against a North Texas team that sits near the top of the Conference USA standings.

“We’re just used to playing here, I guess. We always play good here,” Jackson said. “We have to defend our home court, every time. We can’t let people come in her and beat us at our own crib.”

Marvin Pfeiffer / Staff Photographer UTSA’s Keaton Wallace, right, tries to bring the ball into the lane against a trio of FAU defenders during Saturday’s game. The Roadrunners have won seven of their last eight games.