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The University of Texas of the Permian Basin men's basketball team has been playing for their chance to compete in the Heartland Conference Tournament for the past two weeks, and their quest continues as it came away with an 84-77 win over Newman. The Falcons now sit at 6-4 in the league and find themselves in second place a game ahead of St. Mary's.
The Falcons trailed by as many as 12 with just over 11 minutes to play, but am 18-6 run over the next five minutes tied the game at 71 after
Jamal Holden made the back end of a pair of free throws. The teams would exchange the lead until
Erik Martin, who along with Holden finished with 21 points, hit a 10-foot jumper in the lane to give UTPB a 77-75 lead.
Newman managed to tie the game at 77 after William Burdette hit a pair of free throws with 2:17 to go, but
Louis Crane drained a three pointer with 1:44 to go to give the Falcons an 80-77 edge they would not relinquish.
The Jets went cold from the field in the final five minutes of the game as Eric Saunders hit a 15-foot jumper with 4:08 to play, but it would be the last bucket they would make from the field. His basket gave them a 75-73 lead, and would make just two free throws in the final four minutes to play.
UTPB controlled the first half as it led by as many as eight with 6:13 to go when
Elijah Jordan knocked down a three-pointer, but the Falcons wouldn't score again until Holden hit a pair of free throws with 1:42 to go before the break. Newman was able to use a 13-2 run to lead 33-31 after Holden's freebies until
Dwayne Soders tied it at 35 with a layup between two defenders. Holden would eventually give the Falcons a 37-35 halftime lead after hitting a jumper just inside the three-point line at the buzzer.
Two other players scored in double-figures for the Falcons with Jordan putting in 14 while Soders added 12. UTPB hit 49 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Jets 45-30.
The Falcons still have two regular season games left on the schedule and both are on the road. They will travel to Dallas to take on Dallas Baptist on Thursday, followed by a Saturday matchup against St. Edward's in Austin.
