Roadrunners John Millsap (left) and LeRoy Hurd (right)

Roadrunners are one win away from share of title

(March 4, 2004)--A win Friday night over Southeastern Louisiana will give UTSA a share of the Southland Conference title, marking the first conference championship for the Roadrunners since 1992.

The March 5 contest is also UTSA Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night at the Convocation Center with $3 discount tickets available for faculty and staff members with UTSACard.

The women's game tips off at 6 p.m., followed by the men's contest at 8 p.m. The first 500 fans through the door will receive a free UTSA t-shirt.

Win or lose, the UTSA men's team will host a first-round playoff game in the SLC Tournament. A win, however, puts UTSA in a three-way tie with Southeastern Louisiana and Texas-Arlington, while a Roadrunner loss hands SLU the championship outright, leaves UTA in second and UTSA third.

In the battle for tournament seeding, the Roadrunners will pick up the No. 3 seed regardless of Friday night's outcome.  A UTSA win will give UTA the top seed and SLU the No. 2 slot.  The Roadrunners enter the contest 15-13 overall and 10-5 in SLC play, while SLU stands at 19-7 overall and 11-4 in the SLC.

The Roadrunners' last regular-season title came in 1991-92, while their last tournament title was in 1999.  The winner of the Southland Conference Tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

A win by the women's team will put the Roadrunners in fourth place with hosting rights for a first round game in the women's tournament.  The defending Southland Champions, UTSA enters Friday's contest at 13-13 overall and 9-6 in league play.  Men's tournament first-round action begins Monday night at 7 p.m., while the women play Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit the UTSA Athletics Web site.

--Rick Nixon