UTSA earns first home victory in nearly a year against VMI

SAN ANTONIO – Eight unanswered points in the final minute allowed UTSA men’s basketball to defeat the Virginia Military Institute 70-68 at the Convocation Center.

Clutch scoring, defensive stops and 46 bench points allowed the Roadrunners to fend off the Keydets in their first home win since November 2025. Battling from behind for a majority of the game, UTSA found second-half offensive solace in the backcourt duo of juniors Josiah LeGree and KJ Tenner, who combined for 28 points in the win. Graduate student Demari Williams also scored 14 points, including a massive three to take the lead and seal the victory.  Defensively, the Roadrunners executed efficiently in the latter period, forcing 12 turnovers and registering six steals. 

“I thought our team played with incredible spirit the entire game,” coach Nick Bowman said. “We’ve got a group here that really enjoys being around each other and playing for each other.” 

After a two-minute scoring drought, VMI sank a three to extend its lead to 64-62 with 2 minutes left. UTSA struggled late, making only one of its last seven shots. Coming up empty on offense, the Keydets once again scored to extend their lead to four with over a minute left. 

The Roadrunners raced down the court to quickly find freshman forward Mike Broxton Jr. under the basket for a layup. Getting the stop on the defensive end, UTSA put the ball in LeGree’s hands, who found Williams for a kickout three-pointer. The shot put the Roadrunners in front by one with 58 seconds left. 

“I knew when I caught the ball it was going up,” Williams said. “I didn’t need to hesitate; I knew I was going to shoot it with confidence.” 

Full-court on-ball pressure allowed UTSA to force another defensive stop, giving it a sliver of breathing room. Taking their time up the court, the Roadrunners continuously swung the ball around the perimeter, finding senior guard Preston Turner for a wide-open three. The score erupted the Convocation Center, putting the game out of reach and giving UTSA its first home victory in nearly a year. 

The Roadrunners finished the game with nine players on the scoring chart, 46 bench points and three double-digit scorers. Despite losing the rebounding battle 47-30, the Roadrunners managed to snag 12 offensive rebounds and score 14 second-chance points. The ‘Runners spent just three minutes with the lead, yet outscored the Keydets 8-2 down the stretch. Shooting 42% from the field and 23% from beyond the arc, UTSA found itself escaping the Convocation Center with its first win in the Bowman era. 

“Our team is our strength,” LeGree said. “This is just the first of many.”  

UTSA will take on Seattle University Wednesday at 9 p.m. at the Redhawk Center.

Looking for more UTSA content? Consider supporting us on Patreon to immediately gain access to hundreds of exclusive podcasts, videos, and articles. Click the banner below to view our membership options and associated benefits.