Roadrunners' Rally Falls Short at Liacouras Center: Temple Owls Secure Home Victory

The UTSA Roadrunners, despite a valiant effort, fell to the Temple Owls with a final score of 77-83. The Roadrunners' record now stands at 0-1, while the Owls have kicked off their season with a 1-0 start.

In an intense matchup at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, the UTSA Roadrunners showcased their offensive capabilities but ultimately could not overcome the home team's resilience. The first half saw the Roadrunners take an assertive stance, accumulating 41 points against the Owls' 34. However, momentum shifted after halftime as Temple surged to add 49 points to their tally compared to UTSA's additional 36.

The Roadrunners were formidable in various aspects of play. They outrebounded their opponents with a total of 42 rebounds and dominated second-chance scoring opportunities by securing 20 points. Their two-point field goal percentage was impressive at fifty-six percent on thirty-nine attempts. Despite these efforts, challenges arose from beyond the arc where they struggled with only twenty-two percent accuracy on twenty-seven three-point attempts.

UTSA also demonstrated tenacity on defense with five blocks and four steals but were hindered by twenty personal fouls throughout the game which may have impacted their rhythm and flow. Additionally, one player faced ejection which could have affected team dynamics during critical moments.

On offense, free throws were made fifteen times from twenty-two attempts resulting in sixty-eight percent efficiency from the line. Points in paint were another strong suit for UTSA as they scored thirty-eight matching that of Temple's interior scoring.

The Temple Owls capitalized on fast breaks contributing nineteen points and displayed more effective ball handling leading to fewer turnovers (six) compared to UTSA's eight mishaps. Their three-point shooting was markedly better than that of UTSA’s; they hit eight out of twenty-one shots giving them thirty-eight percent success rate from downtown.

Looking ahead for fans of The University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners: The next game is set against South Florida Bulls at home turf – UTSA Convocation Center in San Antonio – scheduled for February 21st at 8 PM Eastern Time (7 PM Central). This game will be available for viewing on ESPN+ over internet broadcast networks.