box score
 
Klein Harper put in a career-high 14 points and led all players with nine rebounds to pace UTPB in the Falcons' 57-50 win over St. Edward's in the regular season finale.  The win enables UTPB to face Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday night in Laredo in a play-in game with the winner earning a berth in the Heartland Conference Tournament. 
 
Harper made seven of the eight shots he took including a layup to give UTPB a 51-48 lead with 1:58 to play.  Erik Martin was just as impressive with 14 points, 10 of which came from the free throw line, as well as recording a career-high seven blocks and six assists. 
 
Both teams exchanged buckets to start the game until UTPB used a 9-0 run to take a 13-7 lead with 12:05 to play in the first half.  The Falcons would eventually lead by as many as seven (18-11) with 9:28 to play after a Ke'Andre Derrick free throw, but the Hilltoppers would out-score them 13-6 the rest of the half, including a layup by Khaliq Gross with six seconds to play to tie the game at 24. 
 
The second half saw the lead change four different times as well as three ties before a layup by Mike Akins with 2:21 to play gave UTPB a 49-48 edge which it would not lose the rest of the way.  Akins, who played in the last home game of his career, put in six points and pulled down six rebounds. 
 
The Falcons were able to overcome 19 turnovers which led to 22 extra points for the Hilltoppers, but countered with making all but three of the 20 free throws they attempted.  UTPB also used a smothering defense to hold St. Edward's to a 32.3 percent shooting percentage and took advantage of just two free throws made. 
 
UTPB, which won the regular season a year ago, will look to compete in the Heartland Conference Tournament for the second-straight season.  The winner of the UTPB-Arkansas-Fort Smith game will enter as the No. 4 seed and will take on host Texas A&M International in the opening round on Friday.