Gibson named men’s Most Outstanding Player

UT-San Antonio senior guard Devin Gibson was chosen as the 2011 State Farm Southland Conference men’s basketball tournament’s most outstanding player after he guided the Roadrunners to the conference championship with a 75-72 win over top-seed McNeese State on Saturday.

Gibson, who recorded a triple double in Wednesday’s opening round win over Northwestern State and a double double in Thursday’s semifinal victory over Sam Houston State, was joined on the team by fellow UTSA teammate Jeromie Hill (conference Freshman of the Year), McNeese State’s Patrick Richard and Diego Kapelan and Gilberto Clavell of Sam Houston State.

(7) UTSA 75, (1) McNeese State 72, Final

Melvin Johnson III hit the first free throw to give the Roadrunners a three-point cushion, but missed the second, which went into the hands of Patrick Richard with :06 left. Richard drove the ball upcourt, moved to the right corner and uncorked what would have been a game-tying trey.

The ball bounced off the side of the rim as time expired, giving UTSA (19-13) their third Southland Conference title and first since 2004.

Jeromie Hill led all scorers with 25 points, while Devin Gibson scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half to go along with 10 assists and four rebounds. Stephen Franklin had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Roadrunners.

Diego Kapelan paced McNeese State (21-11) with 20 points, with Stephan Martin adding 16. Richard (12 points, 10 rebounds) and P.J. Alawoya (10 points, 12 boards) both recorded double-doubles for the Cowboys, who will go to the National Invitational Tournament as the Southland Conference regular season champs.

(7) UTSA 74, (1) McNeese State 72, :07 2nd

The Cowboys hit four straight 3-pointers and took advantage of a pair of missed free throws from Sei Payne to cut the gap to two. McNeese had a chance to take the lead, but C.J. Collins’ 3-pointer glanced off the rim and Collins was called for a turnover when he stepped on the line after grabbing his own rebound.

(7) UTSA 71, (1) McNeese State 66, :43, 2nd

With their NCAA Tourney hopes on the line, the Cowboys have gotten consecutive 3-pointers to get back into the contest, but the Roadunners have been clutch at the stripe, hitting 14 of their 17 attempts.

(7) UTSA 67, (1) McNeese State 60, 1:30 2nd

Devin Gibson has willed the Roadrunners to the brink of the school’s first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2004, dropping a huge jumper, but the Cowboys still have life left in them.

McNeese still is unable to find their mark, hitting just 4 of their 23 attempts from 3-point range

Down the stretch for men’s tourney title

Diego Kaplan’s 3-pointer has brought McNeese State to within 60-58 with 3:36 remaining. The Cowboys have not led in the second half and have not enjoyed the advantage since holding a 9-8 lead at the 14:01 mark of the first half.

Jeromie Hill has played like anything but a freshman, as he has a game-high 25 points to lead UTSA. Kapelan has 17 to lead McNeese State.

(7) UTSA 57, (1) McNeese State 53, 5:03, 2nd

Trailing by as much as seven points at the 10:31 mark, the Cowboys have chipped away at the margin and now down just one possession. Still anyone’s game at this point.

(7) UTSA 43, (1) McNeese State 37, 11:46 2nd

McNeese State has had a long afternoon from beyond the arc, hitting just 3 of their 17 attempts. At this point, the Cowboys are hitting at a mere .333 from the field.

Fortunately for them, their defense has been stellar for the most part, holding the Roadrunners to .395 shooting, but McNeese has yet to coral UTSA freshman Jeromie Hill, who has a game-high 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting.

(7) UTSA 38, (1) McNeese State 34, 14:35 2nd

Devin Gibson has four of the Roadrunners’ eight points, including a jumper that gave them their biggest lead of the day at 38-32 before C.J. Collins quickly responded with a layup.

This has been a defensive contest, with both teams shooting under 40 percent (McNeese .342, UTSA .385).

(7) UTSA 30, (1) McNeese State 28, Half

Despite getting just two points and two rebounds from Devin Gibson, the Roadrunners are just 20 minutes away from toppling the top-seeded Cowboys, who are shooting just 36 percent. The long range game is off for McNeese thus far, as they are shooting just 2 of 13 from beyond the arc (.154).

Patrick Richard leads the way for McNeese State with 10 points, but it’s been the 13 points of UTSA’s Jeromie Hill that has been the difference.