Category: college basketball

Villanova Wildcats celebrate in San Antonio, head to Final Four

Villanova mascot Will D. Cat brought some Wildcats attitude to the NCAA tournament South Regional in San Antonio. - photo by Joe Alexander
Villanova mascot Will D. Cat brought some Wildcats attitude to the NCAA tournament South Regional in San Antonio.
Villanova is bound for the NCAA Final Four in men’s basketball after beating Houston 50-44 on Saturday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

As the arena lights were turned down for the pregame introductions, Villanova coach Jay Wright was reading something he pulled from his pocket. I'd guess key points from his game plan or words of motivation or wisdom. I'll probably never know for sure. - photo by Joe Alexander
As the arena lights were turned down for the pregame introductions, Villanova coach Jay Wright was reading something he pulled from his pocket.
The Wildcats will be aiming for their fourth NCAA championship. Coached by Jay Wright, they have won as recently as 2018, when they defeated Michigan in the title game – played at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Villanova players celebrate at the NCAA tournament South Regional in San Antonio. - photo by Joe Alexander
Villanova players celebrate at the NCAA tournament South Regional in San Antonio.
The Villanova fans were outnumbered in Saturday’s game since Houston is practically just down the road from San Antonio. But in the end, Wildcats fans got to see their team cut down the net and hoist the trophy.

Game story by Jerry Briggs and game photos at:
theJBreplay.com

Media reunion at NCAA South Regional

Brian Anderson handled television play by play at the NCAA tournament South Regional in San Antonio. - photo by Joe Alexander
Brian Anderson handled television play by play at the NCAA tournament South Regional in San Antonio.
One of the best things about working at big sporting events is getting the chance to see old friends from the business.

From Saturday’s NCAA tournament South Regional game at the AT&T Center in San Antonio:

1. Brian Anderson on TV play by play. I first met Brian almost 30 years ago when he was a college baseball player at St. Mary’s in San Antonio. He later went from being on the radio broadcast team for the Double-A San Antonio Missions to television play by play for the Milwaukee Brewers.

2. The historic JJ Perez from InsideRunnerSports.com and Jerry Briggs from theJBreplay.com. JJ is the best known source of news on UTSA football and men’s basketball. Jerry and I started working together more than 40 years ago at the San Antonio Light.

3. Mike Finger from the San Antonio Express-News. Mike brings his special flavor of wit and insight to his work and carries on the tradition of Express-News sports columnists.

4. Aaron Million from Project Spurs.com. Aaron is part of a young generating of journalists who combine photography, video and graphic art in their work.

Maggie Shipley, Mollee Priddy help Trinity women stay unbeaten in SCAC

Maggie Shipley was 8-of-14 from the field and led Trinity with 26 points on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, at Calgaard Gym in San Antonio. - photo by Joe Alexander
Maggie Shipley was 8-of-14 from the field and led Trinity with 26 points on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, at Calgaard Gym in San Antonio. – photo by Joe Alexander
Trinity hit 10-of-28 from 3-point range and rolled to a 91-48 victory over University of Dallas on Wednesday at Calgaard Gym.

Trinity is 3-0 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play and 10-2 on the season.

Maggie Shiple led the Tigers with 26 points and four assists. Mollee Priddee hit four 3-pointers in the first half and finished with 17 points.

Maggie Robbins had 12 points and Carly Leong had 11.

Enzo Sechi, Kaleb Jenkins lead Trinity past Dallas

Enzo Sechi. Trinity men's basketball beat University of Dallas 74-75 on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, at Calgaard Gymnasium in San Antonio. - photo by Joe Alexander
Enzo Sechi led Trinity with 15 points in Tuesday’s conference victory over U. of Dallas.
Junior forward Enzo Sechi had 15 points and junior guard Kaleb Jenkins had 11 as the Trinity men’s basketball team beat the University of Dallas 74-65 on Tuesday at Calgaard Gymnasium in San Antonio.

Trinity improved to 11-2 on the season and 3-1 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Hailey Coleman leads Trinity women’s basketball to win in home opener

Hailey Coleman led Trinity with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Trinity women's basketball beat Worcester State 76-69 on Wednesday at Calgaard Gymnasium in San Antonio. - photo by Joe Alexander
Hailey Coleman led Trinity with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
The Trinity women’s basketball team beat Worcester State 76-69 on Wednesday at Calgaard Gymnasium in San Antonio. It was the first home game of the season for the Tigers (7-2 overall).

Hailey Coleman, a senior center, had a double-double for Trinity with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Ava Limonciello had 17 points and sophomore guard Maggie Robbins had 10 points.

Trinity plays at home again Thursday at 3 p.m. against LeTourneau.

AJ Clark, Ben Hanley, Kaleb Jenkins lead Trinity past Calvin

Trinity men's basketball beat Calvin 88-71 on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, at Calgaard Gymnasium in San Antonio. - photo by Joe Alexander
Trinity men’s basketball beat Calvin on Wednesday in the the Tigers’ final home game of 2021.
The Trinity men’s basketball team beat Calvin 88-71 on Wednesday at Calgaard Gymnasium.

AJ Clark had 18 points and 6 rebounds, Ben Hanley had 15 points and Kaleb Jenkins had 10 points and 3 steals for the Tigers.

Trinity is 10-2 on the season. The Tigers play their next game on the road on Dec. 30 at Incarnate Word.

Trinity men's basketball coach Jimmy Smith during the Tigers' victory over Calvin at Calgaard Gymnasium in San Antonio. - photo by Joe Alexander
Trinity men’s basketball coach Jimmy Smith during the Tigers’ victory over Calvin at Calgaard Gymnasium.

St. Mary’s guard Caleb Jordan records double-double, 1,000th career point

Caleb Jordan had a double-double and scored his 1,000th career point on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at St. Mary's. - photo by Joe Alexander
Caleb Jordan had a double-double and scored his 1,000th career point on Saturday at St. Mary’s. – photo by Joe Alexander
St. Mary’s senior Caleb Jordan recorded his first career double-double and reached the 1,000-point mark for his career.

Jordan finished with 16 points and 10 assists as the Rattlers won their 2021-22 home opener 97-70 over Huston-Tillotson on Saturday.

Josh Brewer led St. Mary’s with 21 points, Kobe Magee had 13, C.J. Washington had 12 and Ryan Leonard had 11.

The Rattlers evened their record to 2-2 with road games coming up against UT-Permian Basin on Dec. 11 and Angelo State on Dec. 13. St. Mary’s plays its next home game on Dec. 18 against A&M-International.

St. Mary’s men’s basketball plays home opener Saturday

Caleb Jordan had a team-high 17 points for St. Mary's in Monday's road loss to UTSA. - photo by Joe Alexander
Caleb Jordan had a team-high 17 points for St. Mary’s in Monday’s road loss to UTSA. – photo by Joe Alexander
The St. Mary’s men’s basketball team plays its first home game of the season on Saturday.

The Rattlers take on Huston-Tillotson at 4 p.m. at Greehey Arena.

St. Mary’s is coming off a 75-65 road loss to UTSA on Monday. The Rattlers trailied most of the game but were within five points with less than three minutes remaining in the game.

Caleb Jordan led St. Mary’s with 17 points, Mamady Djikine had 15 points and 8 rebounds, Kobe Magee 11 points and Emmanuel Ewuzie had 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Jim Zeleznak and St. Mary’s basketball coaching history

The St. Mary's men's basketball coaching staff including head coach Jim Zeleznak. - photo by Joe Alexander
The St. Mary’s men’s basketball coaching staff including head coach Jim Zeleznak. – photo by Joe Alexander
It was 23 seasons ago that St. Mary’s won the NAIA men’s basketball national championship.

Longtime head coach Buddy Meyer was at the Rattlers’ helm and Jim Zeleznak was the top assistant coach when they claimed the 1989 championship trophy in Kansas City. Both were former St. Mary’s players. Meyer had been a member of the Rattlers’ first team to reach the national tournament.

All these years later, the St. Mary’s coaching staff has a familar look.

Zeleznak is in his 17th season as the Rattlers’ head coach, having taken over when Meyer retired after 27 years.

Meyer’s son Bubba, who played for his father at St. Mary’s, is in his 21st season as the team’s assistant coach.

And Monday, when St. Mary’s made the short road trip to the north side of San Antonio to play UTSA, Buddy Meyer was in the stands right behind the Rattlers’ bench.

Trinity men’s basketball wins opener

Tanner Brown hit this 3-pointer with 8:21 left to put Trinity in front for good. - photo by Joe Alexander
Tanner Brown hit this 3-pointer to put Trinity in front for good. – photo by Joe Alexander
Tanner Brown hit a 3-pointer with 8:21 left to put Trinity in front for good in an 89-81 men’s basketball victory over Sul Ross in the season opener on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at Trinity.

Enzo Sechi, a junior forward from Houston, led the Tigers with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Brown, a sophomore guard from San Antonio, finished with 14 points. Jacob Harvey, a freshman guard from Huffman, Texas, scored 14 points off the bench.