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SAN ANTONIO – The University of Texas of the Permian men's basketball season came to an end in the championship game of the Heartland Conference Tournament. Texas A&M International took an 86-67 win over the Falcons.

After starting the season 1-5, UTPB went on to win 15 of its final 22 games and garnered its first-ever Heartland Conference regular season championship. The Falcons finished the year with a 16-12 record marking the most victories in school history.

UTPB had trouble matching up inside with the bigger and more athletic Dustdevils, who will represent the Heartland Conference in the upcoming NCAA Division II Regional Tournament. A&M International had everything going its way as it hit 60 percent from the field including 70.6 percent in the second half. The Dustdevils also sank 31-of-41 free throws, 30 of which came in the second half.

The Falcons were not as fortunate as it made only 23 trips to the line and made 15. TAMIU also took advantage of 18 turnovers by the Falcons that led to 26 points.

UTP was shell shocked to start the game as A&M International jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first seven minutes and it was nearly eight minutes into the game before Jamal Holden made a pair of free throws for the first points of the game for the Falcons.

James Silvie drained a three-pointer to give the Dustdevils a 22-7 advantage, but a 13-2 run by UTPB brought it within four (24-20) with 6:11 to go. They would pull within three with 3:46 to go but a 7-0 run by A&M International gave it a 36-26 advantage with 2:50 in the first. The Dustdevils would eventually head to the locker room with a 38-31 lead.

The second half saw the Falcons pull within three once again (41-38) with 17:21 to play after Martin drained a three-pointer, but every time UTPB was in striking distance, TAMIU answered with a bucket of its own to keep the lead.

Dwaine Soders made a layup with 9:25 to play to make it 56-54 but the Falcons would come no closer the rest of the way.

UTPB finished with a 16-12 record, marking the most wins in school history while TAMIU improved to 19-9 overall.

Soders, who finished with a team-high 17 points, was named to the All-Tournament team, while Holden, who scored 19 in the first game and 12 in the second, was named to the team as well.