Box Score

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin men's basketball team survived an early first half deficit, holding the lead twice in the opening half against Tarleton State before the teams went into halftime tied at 24-24, but TSU pulled away in the second half in defeating UTPB 60-46 Friday night in the opening game of the Taco Bell Texan Tip-Off Classic in Stephenville, Texas. 

UTPB trailed by six points five minutes in, but were able to pull within two on a tip in by Rob Heyer on an offensive rebound halfway through the opening half. 

The Falcons took their first lead of the game afer Dominique Brooks tied the contest at 18-18 and Jereol Walker pulled UTPB ahead by two with 7:09 remaining in the first half.

Colton Thompson scored a layup in the final minute of the first half that put the Falcons back in the lead by two points, but Tarleton State scored with 25 seconds remaining to send the teams into the intermission tied at 28-28.

The second half belonged to the Texans after UTPB held a pair of two-point lead early in the second half as Tarleton State rode a seven-point run to take a 33-28 lead. 

A nine-point stretch capped by a 3-pointer pushed the Tarleton State lead to 49-34 with seven minute remaining in the contest.

UTPB was able to get the score down to single digits on back-to-back 3-pointers from Heyer and Madison Turner at 51-43 with 3:55 remaining in the second half, but that was as close as the Falcons were able to close within in the eventual 14-point loss.

Heyer led the Falcons with 17 points, connecting on all six of his free throw attempts while shooting 4-of-7 from the field as he knocked down three of his four 3-point attempts. He also grabbed a team-best eight rebounds on the night.

Brian Word tied Heyer with 17 points in the game for Tarleton State, one of three Texans to score double digits in the game. 

UTPB continutes non-conference play in Stephenville Saturday night, meeting Texas A&M Commerce for the second time in a week. Tip off is schedule for 5 p.m.