SAN ANTONIO, Texas – After Lamar opened the second half with a 17-5 run to build a double-digit lead, UTSA answered with a late 12-0 run to reclaim the advantage late and escape in the closing minutes with an 86-83 victory.
 
Terry Anderson (17 points) led a group of four Cardinals to finish the game in double figures for an offense that outshot UTSA. Big Red finished the night 32-of-63 (.508) from the field, including a 10-of-25 (.400) effort from three three-point range.
 
Lamar didn't get many opportunities at the free throw line but took advantage when they did converting 9-of-12 (.750) attempts. Free throws played a huge role in the game as UTSA converted eight more free throws than Lamar attempted (20-of-26).
 
Joining Anderson in double figures were B.B. Knight with 13 and Ja'Sean Jackson and Adam Hamilton with 12. Hamilton also pulled down 10 rebounds for the double-double.
 
UTSA jumped out of the gates quickly and finished the night 25-of-62 (.403). The Roadrunners never cooled from three-point range knocking down 16-of-35 (.457) attempts. The 'Runners were led by Isaiah Wyatt's 27 points. UTSA finished the game with a four-rebound advantage on the glass.
 
UTSA took a 9-2 lead before missing a shot, but the Cardinals converted that miss into a fastbreak basket to stop the run momentarily. The Roadrunners started 5-of-9 from the field, including a four of their first six from three-point range.
 
Down by 12, junior Ja'Sean Jackson sparked the first Cardinal run with a three at 8:58 of the opening half sparking a 6-0 run to trim a 12-point deficit down to just six (Cody Pennebaker followed with a three).
 
After the lead got back to 11, the Cardinals again answered – this time with an 11-3 run – after baskets from Hamilton and a step back three from Anderson. The Cardinals pulled to within two before UTSA extended its lead to two possessions before the break.
 
After starting 3-for-8 from the field the Cardinals closed on fire knocking down 11 of their last 19 to finish the first half 14-of-27 (.519) from the field, with five triples. The Cardinals were also 5-of-7 (.714) from the free throw line.
 
The Roadrunners held a slim advantage on the glass, 18-14, but Lamar got a boost from its bench. Big Red's reserves outscored UTSA's, 13-6, in the opening 20 minutes.
 
UTSA started hot from long range and carried that momentum into halftime. The 'Runners were 13-of-31 (.419) from the field with a 9-of-19 (.474) effort on three pointers. Their success from the arc allowed UTSA to take a six-point lead into the locker room.
 
The Cardinals started the second half the way they ended the first. Lamar scored 10 of the first 13, including an 8-0 to take their first lead of the night, 48-47, with 15:21 remaining. Anderson sparked the run by forcing a turnover leading to a Knight layup and followed that up with a layup of his own to give the Cards the advantage.
 
After a Chris Pryor basket and a stop on the defensive end led to another Knight three the Cardinals lead was six with 12:44 remaining (55-49).
 
The Cardinals opened the second half on a 17-5 and appeared to take complete control of the contest. Big Red's defense then stepped to force extra possessions. After forcing just seven turnovers in the first, LU forced the 'Runners into six in the first 12 minutes of the second. LU eventually built its lead to 10 points following a Pennebaker three with 7:38 remaining.
 
After the eight-minute media timeout, UTSA broke the huddle and scored five consecutive to trim a seven-point lead down to just two, but Jakevion Buckley responded with an and-one at the other end to push the advantage back to five with just over five to play.
 
It appeared the second half was going to be the exact same as the final 20 minutes of the contest in Beaumont. Every UTSA run was answered by a clutch Lamar basket. Unfortunately, the trend didn't last.  
 
UTSA rattled off a late 12-0 run to reclaim a one-point lead with 1:37 remaining. UTSA grabbed the lead at the free throw line and pushed it to as many as four points before Lamar found an answer. The Cardinals ended the run with a Hamilton put back to pull back within two with 25.5 seconds remaining.
 
Trailing by four, Chris Pryor managed to bury a double-clutch three from the right of the circle to pull LU back with one with 1.1 seconds remaining. The Cardinals were forced to foul putting UTSA back on the free throw line. UTSA's Christian Tucker hit both attempts to give the Roadrunners a three-point lead. After a UTSA timeout, the Cardinals had one final shot to tie the game, but Knight appeared to get bumped and was unable to convert the halfcourt attempt.
 
The Cardinals return to action Sunday when they travel to Huntsville, Texas to take on Sam Houston. The game against the Bearkats will tip off at 5 p.m. from the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.