AUSTIN, TEXAS – Junior
Bryce Roberts scored 19 second-half points and UT Tyler kept one of the Lone Star Conference's best offensive units in check all game in a tight 67-60 loss to St. Edward's.
The Patriots limited the Hilltoppers to just 36.4 percent (20-for-55) from the field and stayed within striking distance of St. Edward's (12-4, 5-2 LSC) throughout the final 10 minutes of the contest. Roberts scored all 19 of his game-high point total in a second half in which UT Tyler (2-11, 1-6 LSC) outscored the Hilltoppers by a 39-to-34 margin.
Roberts went 8-for-16 from the field and UT Tyler shot 39.3 percent (24-for-61) from the field as a unit. Sophomore
Nikolas Gustavson added 15 points and graduate student
Terrell Wilson 10 points to the scoring effort.
St. Edward's was able to overcome the stout Patriot defensive presence by converting on 18-of-22 attempts from the free-throw line as a team, while UT Tyler went just 6-for-11 as a unit.
The Hilltoppers made six first-half three pointers to earn the edge over UT Tyler in what was a slow offensive first half for both sides and carried a 33-21 lead into the halftime break. St. Edward's extended that advantage to their largest margin of the second half at 45-32 before four consecutive three-point makes from the Patriots quickly cut into the deficit.
That onslaught from the three-point line for the Patriots provided the bulk of what would end up being a 14-5 run to narrow the deficit to just 50-46 with 8:16 remaining in the game.
The Patriots couldn't manage to draw the differential any closer in the final minutes of the contest as the Hilltoppers shot 10 free throw attempts in the final eight minutes of the game, converting on eight of those opportunities, and outscored UT Tyler by a 17-14 margin down the stretch.
Forward
Juan Pablo Camargo led UT Tyler with seven blocks while junior Alex Zambie added eight points, six rebounds and six points to the effort.
UT Tyler will head to San Antonio on Saturday afternoon for a 3 p.m. tip-off against St. Mary's.
