box score
 
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin shot just 31 percent from the field and turned the ball over 19 times, but still managed to keep the game close as Abilene Christian took a 65-60 win in the Falcon Dome. 
 
The first half couldn't have gone any worse for the Falcons, who made just 4-of-23 shots from the field and missed all 12 of their three-point attempts.  At one point, UTPB was 1-of-12 from the field, but it did make 14 of its 17 free throws in the opening period. 
 
Neither team got off to a good start as the game was scoreless for nearly three minutes until Mike Akins gave UTPB a 2-0 lead after hitting a pair of free throws.  It would be the only lead the Falcons would have the entire first half.  Ke'Andre Derrick hit the first field goal for UTPB at the 15:57 mark and it wouldn't hit another until Branden Harrison found the bottom of the net with 7:22 to play in the first.  By that time, Abilene Christian jumped out to an 18-10 lead. 
 
Harrison, who led all scorers with 22 points, made a living from the line in the first half as he hit eight of UTPB's 14 freebies. 
 
The Falcons fell behind by 10 on three different occasions in the first half, including a 32-22 deficit with one second to play after Desmond Woodberry hit a free throw. 
 
The Wildcats led by as many as 15 (43-28) with 15:30 to play after Zach Williams made a driving layup, and they would keep a double digit lead until Elijah Jordan's jumper with 7:06 to go cut the lead to eight (56-48).  His bucket started a 10-1 run capped off with a pair of free throws by Madison Turner, which gave the Falcons a 58-57 lead with 4:01 to go. 
 
The momentum wouldn't last long as Antonio Bell's two free throws gave the Wildcats the lead for good. 
 
The Falcons had their chances in the closing seconds of the game as it was down 63-60 with just over a minute to play.  In the closing seconds, UTPB missed a three-pointer before having another one blocked, but  would get another chance when Woodberry missed a wide open layup with five seconds to go. 
 
UTPB threw the ball in on its side of the court in front of the bench, but Woodberry made up for his earlier mistake by stealing the inbounded pass before dunking it on the other end with two seconds to go which crushed any chance of a comeback by UTPB. 
 
While Harrison was the main offensive threat for the Falcons, no other player scored over seven points.  UTPB made just 4-of-22 three-point attempts and a season-low 15 field goals for the game. 
 
The Falcons, who moved to 2-2 on the year, will take on West Texas A&M tomorrow at 2 p.m.