San Anntonio, TX—-Rice set the tone early Wednesday night, lighting up the perimeter and leaning on its veteran backcourt to hold off a spirited second-half push from UTSA for an 89-73 road victory.
The win marked the Owls’ second conference victory in American Athletic Conference play and came in the 27th meeting between the programs. Rice (8-10, 2-3 AAC) controlled the game from the outset, while UTSA (4-13, 0-5 AAC) saw its losing streak extended to 10 despite an inspired and energetic performance.
Rice’s experienced guards were the difference, combining for 47 points and knocking down 11 of the team’s 16 3-pointers. The Owls built their advantage early behind hot shooting and crisp ball movement, then relied on timely baskets to quiet every Roadrunner surge.
UTSA entered the night still searching for its first conference win, but the Roadrunners brought energy, enthusiasm, and belief. Their bench was vocal, the effort consistent, and the optimism intact, even as the results continued to lag.
“These guys are competitors, and they work their butts off, and we’re getting closer,” UTSA head coach Austin Claunch said. “We’ve got to keep pushing. There are some really good things we can build on tonight. I know I sound like a broken record, but these guys are getting better, and we’re doing it in a way that can lead to something sustainable.”
Rice senior guards Nick Anderson and Jalen Smith, along with graduate guard Trae Broadnax, fueled the early separation, connecting on eight of the Owls’ 10 first-half 3-pointers. That barrage helped Rice open up a game-high 19-point lead before halftime.
UTSA’s Baboucarr Njie, a former walk-on turned scholarship sophomore, absorbed contact on a strong drive just before the buzzer and finished through it to trim the deficit to 51-40 at the break.
The Roadrunners’ best stretch came midway through the second half. Trailing 66-49, UTSA ignited the crowd behind a 9-0 run sparked by Njie and redshirt junior Austin Nunez. Njie buried consecutive jumpers, then Nunez electrified the gym with a one-handed dunk in transition over a near seven-footer.
Moments later, Njie drilled a deep 3 from the right side of the key, holding his follow-through as the shot dropped and forcing a Rice timeout with the score tightened to 66-58.
“When you’re trying to build something, you win with tough people who want to play hard,” Claunch said. “Baboucarr has a presence and a voice that’s hard to coach. That ability to galvanize the team really helps us.”
Rice responded immediately. Broadnax stopped the momentum with a mid-range jumper out of the timeout and finished with 20 points, seven assists, and two steals. Anderson added 19 points and five rebounds, while Smith chipped in 18 points, including five 3-pointers, and six boards.
Despite UTSA’s intensity and persistence, the Roadrunners never managed to pull closer than eight points and were unable to seize the momentum for good. Njie led UTSA with 23 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, while Nunez scored 16 points with four rebounds and three assists. Hayes added 18 points.
Graduate guard Jamir Simpson, UTSA’s leading scorer this season, was held to four points on 2-of-7 shooting — just the second time he has failed to reach double figures. Claunch attributed the dip in production to defensive game plans increasingly designed to take Simpson out of rhythm.
“I don’t think our record reflects the talent of this team or how good we can be,” Hayes said. “Once we get going, it’s going to snowball.”
Rice returns home to host Temple at Tudor Fieldhouse, while UTSA heads to Memphis to face the Tigers on Sunday at FedExForum.
