It was a historic night at the University Recreation Center as A&M-San Antonio kicked off its inaugural men’s and women’s basketball games before a packed house of 900-plus cheering fans.
“This changes the face of our University forever,” said President Salvador Hector Ochoa during halftime.
The Jaguars, which compete in the NAIA-affiliated Red River Athletic Conference, took on Southern University at New Orleans on Monday, with the women’s team defeating the Wolfpack 89-73, while the men’s team came up short, losing 86-75.
Guard Evelyn Lorenzo led the women’s team, scoring 20 points, including the first three points in the program’s history.
Leading the men’s team was guard Journee Phillips, a fifth-year senior from Wagner who scored 30 points.
While the University teams debuted with a split decision, the crowd’s enthusiasm never wavered, with excited fans cheering and waving signs throughout the doubleheader. Among a standing room of students, faculty, staff, and community members, several VIPs were in attendance, including Mayor Ron Nirenberg, former Mayor Henry Cisneros, Councilmember Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia, as well as Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier, the University’s inaugural president.
Also attending was State Sen. Pete Flores, who the University honored with an on-court presentation recognizing his leadership in the passage of SB 399, which authorized A&M-San Antonio to create a fee to help fund its Intercollegiate Athletics Program.
“All I want is the kids on the south side of the interstate to have the same things as the kids on the other side,” Flores said during the presentation.
Chris Dial, coach for the men’s team, said that while he was disappointed with the game’s final score, he was proud of all his players. And as someone who grew up on the South Side, he knew how special the night was.
"When I was a kid, you couldn’t have gone to an indoor men’s and women’s basketball event on this side of town. It just didn’t exist,” he said.
Chris Minner, the women’s coach, also appreciated the momentous occasion, as well as the crowd’s support.
“The crowd really helped us,” he said. “Our players got excited when the crowd got excited, and that gave us energy. It was a great night.”