box score

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Mesa State had three players score in double-figures with Nate Nelson leading the way with a game-high 17 points as the Mavericks took a 72-67 win over the University of Texas of the Permian Basin men's basketball team in the first round of the Clarion Inn Thanksgiving Classic.

The Falcons also had three players with 10-or-more points, but a 50 percent shooting performance by Mesa State helped put it over the edge. UTPB, which fell to 1-4 on the year, led by as many as five with just over eight minutes to go, after a layup and a made free throw by Klein Harper.

UTPB's offense stalled after the short lead as it did not score again until the 3:08 mark when Dwayne Soders made a layup. By that time, Mesa State held a 61-56 advantage they would not lose the rest of the way.

Jamal Holden led the way for the Falcons with 16 points, while Erik Martin and Louis Crane added 15 and 11 points respectively. Three of UTPB's four losses have now come by five-or-less points.

The falcons will remain in action tomorrow when they take one Western Oregon at 12 p.m.