Sherman leads Texas-San Antonio to win over North Texas
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Kaj-Bjorn Sherman manhandled North Texas, hitting 9 of 13 field goals and 12 of 15 free throws for a career-high 30 points as Texas-San Antonio beat the Mean Green 69-68 to break a five-game Conference USA losing skid Saturday.
North Texas held a 42-33 lead at the break but Sherman opened the second half scoring eight straight unanswered points to close to 42-41. North Texas responded with a 10-5 run to lead 52-46, but Sherman answered with seven straight for a 61-58 lead with 4:43 left. North Texas' T.J. Taylor nailed a 3 with 29 seconds left to close to 69-66 and Maurice Aniefiok followed with a layup to set the final margin.
Jeromie Hill had 10 points for UTSA (14-15, 8-10).
Aniefiok led North Texas (14-16, 8-10) with 20.
Both teams qualified for the Conference USA tournament, which begins March 11 in Birmingham, Ala.
UTEP edges Rice 68-65
EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- Vince Hunter posted a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, as UTEP edged Rice 68-65 on Saturday in the regular season finale for both teams.
Julian Washburn added 19 points and Cedrick Lang had 11 points for the Miners (21-9, 13-5 Conference USA), who play in the Conference USA tournament in Birmingham on March 12.
UTEP jumped to a 10-0 advantage early in the first half and they led 29-27 at the break. Bishop Mency sank a 3-pointer to start the second half and Rice took a 30-29 lead. Mency hit another from distance to put Rice up 55-50 before UTEP responded with a 10-3 run capped by a Hunter layup to take a 60-58 lead with 2:49 left and the Miners held on for the win despite a 3-pointer by Rice's Marcus Jackson at the buzzer.
Jackson led the Owls (11-19, 8-10) with 19 points.
Old Dominion routs Western Kentucky 75-52
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Trey Freeman scored 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting and Old Dominion routed Western Kentucky 75-52 on Saturday, winning its 21st straight home game in the regular-season finale.
Richard Ross added 12 points for the Monarchs (24-6, 13-5 Conference USA), who made 28 field goals on 17 assists in ending the Hilltoppers' three-game winning streak.
Freeman opened with a 3-pointer and the Monarchs never trailed. He scored 14 first-half points and Old Dominion finished with a 9-0 run to lead 40-21 at halftime.
The Hilltoppers closed within 63-45 on a layup by George Fant with 6:55 left in the second half, but the Monarchs replied with an 11-0 run for a 25-point lead with 1:20 left.
T.J. Price led Western Kentucky (19-11, 12-6) with 16 points -- his 13th straight game scoring in double figures -- Fant had 15 and Chris Harrison-Docks scored 11.
