box score

GOODWELL, Okla. – Dwayne Soders and Jamal Holden combined to score 51 points to help the Falcons edge out a 91-88 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State. Soders put in a career-high 26 points after hitting 10-of-13 shots from the field.

The Falcons torched the nets, hitting 51 percent from the field, including 63.6 percent from behind the three-point line. UTPB knocked down seven three's, including three by Louis Crane, who finished with 14 points. Holden, who ended his night with 25 points, made two from long range, while Erik Martin landed two as well.

The Falcons led 87-77 with 23 seconds to go, but three three-pointers by the Aggies brought them within three with six seconds to go before Holden sank a pair of free throws to ice the victory in the closing seconds.

Both teams went back-and-forth in the first half as the lead changed 15 times not to mention eight ties. Marcale Marshall, who scored a game-high 31 points, knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Aggies a 33-32 lead with 3:09 to go in the first. Luckily for the Falcons, it would be the last point they would score before the half, which led to a 9-0 run by UTPB. It would eventually go into the locker room with a 39-33 advantage.

The second half was much like the first as the two teams took turns scoring until Soders knocked down a jumper and converted the free throw after he was fouled on the shot. His freebie gave the Falcons a 67-57 lead with 9:41 to go.

The Falcons would eventually lead 87-77 after a free throw by Martin with 23 seconds to go, but a three-pointer by Josh Edenborough and two by Marshall made it 89-86 with six seconds to play. Marshall landed 6-of-8 three's and made 7-of-7 free throws.

With the win, the Falcons evened their record at 9-9 on the year and 2-2 in Heartland Conference play. They will return home next Saturday when they host St. Edward's at 4:30 p.m. in the Falcon Dome.