box score
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin trailed by as many as 23 at one point in the game, but managed to pull within three with less than four minutes to play, but the comeback was not to be as West Texas A&M pulled away for an 81-75 victory.
UTPB had no answer for the Buffs' inside game as they scored 44 of their points in the paint and shot 71.7 percent from the field while out-rebounding the Falcons 35-24. The Buffs had four players score in double-figures with Courtney Carr putting in a game-high 21. He was 9-of-10 from the field, all of which came via the layup.
The Falcons led for the first four-and-a-half minutes of the game, including an 8-2 advantage after
Madison Turner hit one of his five three-pointers on the afternoon. The Buffs would go on a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to lead 15-8 with 13:31 to go in the first. They would not lose the lead the rest of the way.
A three-pointer by
Branden Harrison with 10:15 to play in the first pulled the Falcons within one (19-18), but they would not score again until
Louis Crane hit a free throw at the 5:31 mark. By that time, the Buffs stretched their lead to 29-19. The scoring drought would continue the rest of the half as UTPB made just one field goal in the final 10:15 of the half. The Buffs would go into the locker room with a comfortable 43-20 advantage.
The Falcons, who changed to a full-court press nearly the entire second half, slowly closed the gap as they pulled within single digits (57-48) for the first time in the second with 9:28 to go. Turner would drain another three with 3:26 to play, making it 69-66, but the Falcons would come no closer the rest of the way.
UTPB relied on its outside shooting as 10 of its 26 field goals came from behind the three-point line. Harrison led the way with 18 for the Falcons, while Turner added 17.
Ke'Andre Derrick and
Elijah Jordan had 13 and 10 respectively.
The Falcons fell to 2-3 on the season and will head to Abilene on Tuesday to take on Abilene Christian at 7 p.m.
