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LAREDO – Elijah Jordan poured in 25 points while Branden Harrison added 17 as The University of Texas of the Permian Basin took a 75-71 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville in the Lone Star/Heartland Conference Challenge. 
 
Jordan took advantage of nearly every opportunity he had, hitting 6-of-10 shots from the field, including 3-of-5 from behind the three-point line.  He also hit all 10 of his free throw attempts.  As a team, UTPB hit 43.9 percent from the field including 50 percent in the second half. 
 
Madison Turner, who drained two three-pointers on the night, gave the Falcons the lead for good when he hit a three at the 12:07 mark in the first half, giving them a 15-14 advantage.  A 10-2 run gave UTPB a 25-16 lead, its largest of the half when Jordan knocked down a three-pointer with 10 minutes to play before the half. 

The Javelinas pulled within four (25-21) after Ashton Brown hit a pair of free throws with 8:33 remaining.  UTPB scored just five points in the final 6:47 of the half, allowing the Javs to make it a one-point contest as the Falcons took a 34-33 lead into the break. 

The teams exchanged points to open the second half until the Falcons used a 13-6 stretch to lead 65-56 with 7:46 to go.  After taking its biggest lead of the final period, the Falcons couldn't buy a bucket as they scored just two points over the next four minutes.  During that span, A&M-Kingville pulled within three (67-64) after Robert Williams hit a pair of free throws. 

UTPB opened the gap once again, leading 71-64 with 2:16 to go, but hit a scoring drought once again as the Javelinas tied the game at 71 with 47 seconds to play.  Back-to-back fouls by A&M-Kingsville's Derryl Nash allowed Jordan to sink three free throws with 19 seconds to play.  Louis Crane added one last free throw with under10 seconds to play to seal the victory. 

The Falcons will take on Incarnate Word tomorrow at 2 p.m. as part of the season-opening tournament hosted by Texas A&M International.