box score

Despite not making a field goal in the final 2:31 of the game, Arkansas Fort Smith managed to pull out an 87-85 win over the University of Texas of the Permian Basin men's basketball team thanks to nine made free throws down the stretch.

Both teams made the most of their freebies, making over 80 percent from the free throw line, but the Lions, who led by six with 2:08 to go relied on their steady shooting from the charity stripe to improve to 12-6 overall, while the Falcons fell to 8-8.

UTPB led 70-66 with 7:52 to go after a layup by Dwayne Soders, who collected his second-straight double-double with a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds. The lead would not last long as the Lions used a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 76-72 lead with 3:34 to go. They would not lose the lead the rest of the way. A three-pointer by Jamal Holden 25 seconds later pulled the Falcons within one (76-75), but the Lions answered with a three-pointer by Djordje Stojanovic for the four-point advantage.

Luther Thomas drained a deep three-pointer with 13 seconds to go to pull the Falcons within one (86-85) and they had their chance in the final seconds, but a missed shot with two seconds to play nullified a UTPB comeback.

Four players finished in double-figures for the Falcons with Ke'Andre Derrick adding 16 points, while Holden and Elijah Jordan finished with 11 and 10 respectively.

UTPB will be back in action on Jan. 20 when it travels to Wichita, Kans. to take on Newman in Heartland Conference action.