SAN ANTONIO, TX — The UTSA men’s and women’s basketball teams headlined the inaugural San Antonio Challenge on Saturday afternoon, a new community event that aligns with the NCAA’s revenue-sharing initiative.
The women’s squad dominated Texas A&M–San Antonio 106–51, while the men faced off in a non-traditional exhibition against the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) at the Convocation Center.
Proceeds from the all-San Antonio doubleheader — with tickets priced at $13 for kids and military members and $15 for adults — were split between the participating programs and Harlandale ISD. Funds also supported local educational and literacy initiatives, courtesy of philanthropist Harvey E. Najim.
UTSA Women Run Away Early
The UTSA women overcame a slow start, using a 12–0 run featuring six different scorers to erase an early 7–1 deficit and seize control of the game. From there, the Roadrunners never trailed again.
Sophomore guard Mia Hammonds led all scorers with 24 points, while San Antonio native Adriana Robles added 16.
Head coach Karen Aston, now in her fifth season, said she was encouraged by both her team’s performance and the potential of the new city-wide event.
“This is something that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Aston said. “It can be a really great event, and I hope it becomes a tradition. We have enough San Antonio women’s teams to make this a full community showcase. I thought it was great.”
The Roadrunners open their regular season on Nov. 6 against Texas Tech. Texas A&M–San Antonio returns to action on Oct. 31 at Providence.
UIW Men Outmuscle UTSA in Exhibition
In the men’s matchup, UIW set the tone early and never looked back, taking a 71–59 victory through three traditional quarters. The Cardinals controlled nearly every category — shooting 53% from the field, 76% from the free-throw line, and 40% from beyond the arc — while also winning the rebounding and assist battles.
UIW’s intensity carried them to a 21-point lead before UTSA battled back to cut it to nine midway through the third. Each time the Roadrunners made a run, however, the Cardinals answered with one of their own.
Four Cardinals finished in double figures: Davion Bailey (15 points), Love Bettis (13), Harold Woods, and Marcus Glover (10 each).
A “bonus” fourth quarter began at 0–0, allowing both teams to give minutes to non-starters. UTSA’s Brent Moss hit the game-winning jumper in the final seconds for a 17–16 victory in the frame. Moss led the Roadrunners with 14 points overall, followed by Jamir Simpson with 12.
Claunch: “We Have to Be Better”
UTSA head coach Austin Claunch was candid in his postgame remarks, expressing disappointment in his team’s effort but optimism about their growth potential before their season opener on Nov. 5 against the College of Biblical Studies.
“We’ve got to be better. This effort was unacceptable in front of our home crowd,” Claunch said. “As a coach, I didn’t do a good job getting us in the right mindset to compete. I got outcoached today. I’ll figure out what I can do differently, and I’ll ask the team to do the same. We take pride in how we play — you’ll see a different team soon.”
UIW will travel to Colorado State on Nov. 3 for its next contest.
Community Spirit on Display
San Antonio Spurs stars De’Aaron Fox and Keldon Johnson attended the event, sitting courtside, taking photos, and signing autographs for fans throughout the day.
“The growth of the San Antonio basketball community over the last decade has been incredible,” Claunch said. “This is something we wanted to do — bring people out and let them see two programs that represent this city with pride.”
