FORT COLLINS, Colo.—Melvin Johnson sank four free throws in the final 23 seconds as Texas-San Antonio held off Fresno State 83-79 Tuesday night in the consolation bracket of the NIT Season Tip-Off.
Johnson and Kannon Burrage finished with 14 points apiece. Stephen Franklin added 12 for Texas-San Antonio (3-2), which nearly blew a 17-point halftime lead.
The Roadrunners, coming off winning an NCAA tournament game for the first time last season, got 38 points from their bench.
Jonathan Wills scored 20 of his career-high 26 points in the second half for Fresno State (2-3). Kevin Olekaibe had 18 points despite 6-of-23 shooting.
Jeromie Hill put Texas-San Antonio ahead 61-41 with a 3-pointer with 15:15 left in the second half. The Roadrunners went cold, and with Wills heating up, Fresno State outscored them 29-12 and were within 73-70 after a 3-pointer by Olekaibe with 4:31 left.
Johnson sank two free throws, but Wells kept the Bulldogs within three with another 3-pointer. Michael Hale was fouled and made only one of his two free throws, and Jerry Brown made a reverse layup to make it 81-79 with 4.8 seconds to go.
Johnson was fouled on the inbounds pass and converted both free throws to seal the win.
The Roadrunners had everything going in the first half. They outscored Fresno State 20-12 in the paint, scored 14 points off 12 turnovers and got 28 points from the bench to lead 48-31 at halftime. Texas-San Antonio closed the half on a 10-2 run.
