box score

CANYON – The University of Texas of the Permian Basin men's basketball team shot a season-low 34.5 percent as West Texas A&M snapped the Falcons' four-game win streak with a 68-56 victory.

The Buffs, who improved to 9-0 on the season, had no problem getting the ball through the hoop as they shot 54.2 percent from the field, including 40 percent from behind the three-point line.

The Falcons did get a combined effort from Erik Martin, Dwayne Soders and Louis Crane, who combined for 37 of the team's points, but didn't get more than six from any other player.

UTPB scored five points in the first five minutes of the game, but didn't score again until four-and-a-half minutes later and by that time found itself in a 14-5 hole with 10:30 to play in the first. The Buffs would lead by as many as 14 (22-8) after a made layup and free throw shot by Lionel Foster, who finished with a game-high 15 points.

The offense finally started rolling for the Falcons, who went on a 16-2 run to tie the game at 24 with 3:06 to play before the break. During that stretch, UTPB made three of their 8 three-pointers on the night. WTAMU would eventually take a 30-29 lead into the locker room thanks to a jumper by David Henderson with 25 seconds to play.

The teams went back-and-forth to start the second half until the Buffs pulled away after a 10-0 run gave them a 48-37 lead with 13:12 to go. They would lead by as many as 14 with just over six minutes to go after LaDarius Hall's dunk made it 54-88.

The Falcons would pull within six with 3:36 to go after a layup by Soders, but the momentum wouldn't last long as the Buffs went on a 9-3 run the rest of the way to seal the victory.

UTPB fell to 5-6 on the year and will take a few weeks off before hosting Angelo State on Jan. 2 at 4:30 p.m. in the Falcon Dome.