Game #144 of 364 39% complete

This day was super relaxing compared to the fiasco yesterday. After a morning at the San Antonio zoo (pictures at the end), I headed over to the Convocation Center to watch the final game on my Texas trip. I was greeted by the UTSA band practicing outside. As parents watched them, I was reminded of the days my youngest daughter would participate in high school band competitions practicing for hours under the perfecting eyes of the band director.

The name Primo Spears on the UTSA roster caught my eye. He was a local Connecticut boy who has played for four different schools in his college career (Duquesne, Georgetown, Florida State and UTSA). He has a world of talent and clearly surpassed any other player today in terms of pure basketball skills. I remember him in the Big East on Georgetown playing against UConn. I tried to research the reasons why he transferred so much but came up empty.

Yes, you’re are looking at the UTSA Roadrunner mascot. I think the roadrunner has eaten one too many coyotes.

I saw a uniform on the wall arena honoring a player named “Gervin”. I immediately thought of George Gervin “The Iceman” although I would think a man of his honor would deserve more than a shirt hanging on the wall. Upon researching “Gervins’ who played for UTSA, the honoree is actually Derrick Gervin who was selected in the fourth round by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1985. He is however more famously known as the brother of George.

Promo Spears and Marcus Millender lead UTSA to the victory with 25 points each. Although UTSA only led by 8 points at the end of the first half, they blew Rice out of the gym with a 53 point second half. It was senior night for UTSA with Spears being one of the recipients. I will be curious to see if he gets a shot in the NBA.

I am always eager to point out “firsts” in my Operation 351 travels. This is the first time I have seen a baton twirler at a Division 1 basketball game. She was very talented.

Not much to say about this game other than it was between two teams with sub .500 records who need a win in the league tournament to make the big dance. Yet the crowd was enthusiastic and the players played hard.

Would an Operation 351 trip be complete without a trip to the local zoo?

I finished the night with a walk on the famous Riverwalk saluting the Texas trip with a margarita.

That’s a wrap for season 10 of Operation 351. Cheers to all my Operation 351 followers!