SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Florida Atlantic snapped a six-game skid Wednesday night, grinding out a 60-52 victory over an injury-depleted UTSA squad at the Convocation Center.
While the Roadrunners’ roster continues to shrink, their resolve has not. UTSA dressed just nine players and saw only eight take the floor, yet pushed the Owls for 40 minutes before FAU’s depth and defensive presence proved decisive.
FAU (15-12, 7-7 American) entered the night ranked sixth nationally in blocked shots with 149 and once again made rim protection its calling card. The Owls swatted away UTSA attempts throughout the contest, turning away drives and altering shots to control the interior.
A Game of Runs
UTSA (5-21, 1-13 American) carried momentum from its recent comeback win over Charlotte and showed no signs of backing down. The Roadrunners took a 28-26 lead into halftime and briefly held a 31-30 advantage early in the second half.
That’s when FAU created separation.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Isaiah Elohim and Niccolo Moretti sparked a pivotal swing, pushing the Owls ahead 37-30 and forcing a UTSA timeout. Moments later, freshman Josiah Parker energized the bench with a lob finish and a tip-in, stretching the margin to nine.
UTSA freshman Kaidon Rayfield responded with a strong drive and a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 41-37 with just over 11 minutes remaining. But that would be as close as the Roadrunners would get.
Elohim’s basket capped a 6-0 spurt that extended FAU’s lead to 47-37 midway through the second half. Each time UTSA trimmed the margin to six, the Owls answered.
“We said at halftime the team that goes on a 7-0 run will probably win the game,” UTSA coach Austin Claunch said. “They went on that run and it was tough to get back. They’re hard to play catch-up with.”
Interior Defense Makes the Difference
FAU’s defensive anchor, Devin Williams, was dominant around the rim. The second-year big man recorded seven blocks — one shy of the school’s single-game record — while adding 11 rebounds and eight points. His presence was instrumental in stalling UTSA’s late-game pushes.
Parker led the Owls with 16 points and 13 rebounds, including a two-handed dunk late that capped a 6-1 run and gave FAU its largest lead at 57-46 with just over a minute to play.
Kanaan Carlyle sealed the victory at the free-throw line in the final seconds after UTSA trimmed the deficit to six one last time.
Roadrunners Show Fight
Despite the loss, UTSA’s effort stood out. Sophomore Baboucarr Njie delivered a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds, continuing a strong season on both ends of the floor. Rayfield added seven points and 10 boards in a gritty performance.
The Roadrunners remain without several key contributors, including Vasean Allette, Stanley Borden, Pierce Spencer and Macaleab Rich, with Austin Nunez and Mo Njie recently added to the injury list. Still, the group refused to fold.
“We showed we can compete,” Baboucarr Njie said. “We had the energy and we stayed in the fight the whole game.”
UTSA, officially eliminated from conference tournament contention, will look to carry that effort into Saturday’s road matchup at Tulsa.
FAU, meanwhile, heads to Denton to face North Texas on Saturday, aiming to build on a much-needed conference win.
