Published Jan 15, 2020
Down 24 points, UTEP plays on to 80-77 OT win
MINER ILLUSTRATED
rivals

Jhivvan Jackson -- the NCAA's second-leading scorer as an elite isolation shooter -- stepped onto the Haskins Center floor and facilitated UTSA dominance for 25 minutes.

With Daryl Edwards locking Jackson down from three (2/7), Jackson still put up 14 points as the Roadrunners cruised to a 42-28 halftime advantage. Keaton Wallace led all scorers at halftime with 18.

UTSA's lead reached a game-high 24 with 14:43 to play, but the Miners played their way back through the next 19:43 for the 80-77 overtime win.

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Bryson Williams masterfully dropped 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as he established his threat to score from anywhere. Daryl Edwards (5/8) outperformed and contained Jackson from three (3/10) on his way to 18 points. Eric Vila led the Miners in assists with 6 and had an agile presence under the basket.

Jhivvan Jackson joined Bryson Williams as the other player to have a double-double with 29 points and 13 rebounds, while Keaton Wallace joined Jackson in the 20-point club with 26, and Luka Barisic scored 12.

After the teams exchanged six lead changes through the first 7:12, a UTSA 13-12 advantage began a series of leads that grew to a half high of 14 points into the locker rooms (42-28).

Out of the break, UTSA's lead grew to 20 points (50-30) at 16:24 then a game-high 24 as the clock read 14:43.

Through the next exactly 10 minutes, the Miners responded with a 30-6 run fueled by defense and Bryson Willams. At 4:43, the game was tied up at 60-60.

The teams tied three more times in regulation (62-62, 66-66, 68-68) as the Miners had an answer to every 2-point and one 4-point UTSA lead.

Five minutes of overtime yielded five lead changes and a tie as Bryson Williams calmly hit a jumper to give UTEP the go-ahead lead for good as the clock read 2:21.

The Miners' lead got up to 5 (79-74) with 0:50 on the clock, Jhivvan Jackson came back with a 3-ball at 0:42, then UTSA's final possession ended with two missed 3-pointers and an Eric Vila block.