The UTSA men’s basketball team started its regular season with a win, successfully defeating Trinity University 103-77 on Monday at the Convocation Center.

Starting defenseman Primo Spears led the way in scoring with 27 points, stringing together a variety of high-arching threes and soft-touch floaters.

“It was a great coming out party for us,” Spears said of the game. “I feel like all of our teammates contributed really well.”

In the competition, four players reached double figures for the Runners. A flurry of three-pointers opened the game quickly, giving UTSA an 81-65 lead nearly halfway through the second period. While Spears led all scorers, other players like guard Marcus Millender made big contributions, contributing 19 points and seven assists in the stunning win. Against a Tiger zone defense, the team was able to get to the basket quickly and either score tough layups or score a quick corner.

“Definitely I’m happy with the offense,” coach Austin Claunch said after the game. “33 threes, I don’t have a problem with that, I think we just need to make a few more.”

The ‘Runners continued to have a defensive performance in the second period, with the team scoring 21 steals and forcing 28 Trinity turnovers. Senior forward Jonnivius Smith led the defense, recording four steals and knocking down four shots at the rim.

“It’s almost like you have too much energy,” Claunch said of the early defensive attack. “I thought we were very emotional in the first half, you have to play with more defensive attitude and I thought we did that in the second half.”

In the first half, both teams exchanged blows throughout the entire period. The Runners’ 6-point lead after seven minutes was the team’s largest of the half as the Tigers continued to hit a series of contested threes and timely putbacks. The Roadrunners pushed at full court for most of the opening, forcing seven turnovers with four team steals. Senior center Jaquan Scott led all scorers, posting 12 points, three rebounds and a monstrous block. Others like Spears and Millender also contributed to the first-half performance, combining for 17 of the team’s 43 points. UTSA scored points in a variety of ways and continued to shoot the ball well. The team finished the half with a 43% field goal percentage and remained efficient overall in the first half. The period ended with the Roadrunners defeating the Tigers 43-41.

UTSA will face the University of North Dakota at the Convocation Center on Saturday at 6 p.m.