Roadrunner Kurt Attaway greets crowd after March 5 win
(Photo by Mark McClendon)

Roadrunners welcome-back rally set for 2:30 p.m. today; one more win secures NCAA tourney bid

(March 11, 2004)--The UTSA community is invited to attend a welcome-back rally for the UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team at 2:30 p.m. today, March 11, outside the Convocation Center on the 1604 Campus.

The team's flight arrives at the airport at 2 p.m. and the team bus should arrive at the Convocation Center shortly after. The UTSA cheerleaders, Chaparelle dance line and public address announcer Kevin Brock will be on hand for the festivities. Head coach Tim Carter and selected players are expected to address the crowd.

The return comes after last night's dramatic 87-85 win at Southeastern Louisiana. UTSA is one win away from securing the Southland Conference's automatic bid to the 2004 NCAA Tournament.

UTSA community members are encouraged to wear their Roadrunner blue-and-orange Friday. UTSA staff members attending Friday's game must use annual leave or floating holiday hours unless they are working at the event. Employees are not required to used leave hours for the rally. Additionally, all UTSA offices must be staffed and open for business during the rally and game. Employees must receive approval from their supervisor in order to attend either event.

Tickets for Friday's Southland Conference championship game go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at the Convocation Center box office. The Roadrunners host Stephen F. Austin at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the Convocation Center in a game to be televised nationally on ESPN2. Reserved seats are $10 and general admission seats are $7. UTSA student tickets are free with UTSACard.

The Roadrunners came from 15 points down to beat Southeastern Louisiana, 87-85, Wednesday night to clinch a spot in the Southland Conference Postseason Tournament Championship Game. Freshman Kurt Attaway scored a career-high 24 points and Justin Harbert connected on four free-throws over the final 16 seconds as UTSA rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit to bring the win.

"I told the guys in the locker room that great character always finds a way to win, and I believe that," said UTSA coach Tim Carter. "There were so many plays that could have gone the other way tonight but didn't. Somehow we found a way to win."

Combined with a Stephen F. Austin win at Texas-Arlington last night, UTSA now hosts the Lumberjacks on Friday at 3:30 p.m. at the Convocation Center in a nationally-televised game on ESPN2.

Stay up to date on UTSA Athletics at http://goutsa.com/.

--Rick Nixon and Kyle Stephens