The University of Texas of the Permian Basin men's basketball team picked up its fifth win in six games with a wild comeback in regulation to force overtime and a strong performance in the extra five minutes to earn a 77-73 victory against St. Edward's in Austin, Texas.
UTPB rebounded from trailing by as many as 12 points with 6:54 as Shimeek Johnson hit a 3-pointer to put the Hilltoppers ahead 52-40.
Rob Heyer keyed the UTPB comeback three minutes later as the Falcons trailed by 10. Heyer hit a pair of free throws followed by a 3-pointer after St. Edward's turned over possession on an offensive foul to cut the lead in half. A steal by
Anthony Dees and a pair of subsequent free throws pulled the team to within three points.
Following a Hilltopper free throw by Jeff Campbell, the Falcons rattled off six straight points in under a minute, getting baskets from
Madison Turner, Dees and a fast break layup by
Xavier Martin to take a two-point 57-55 lead with 1:53 remaining.
After the teams traded jumpers, Turner hit a 3-pointer that put the Falcons ahead 62-59 with just 35 seconds left in the half. Turner split a pair of free throws 14 seconds later following a St. Edward's layup to keep UTPB up by two, but a second layup with 13 seconds by the Hilltoppers tied the game at 63-63, and it headed to overtime after both teams missed shot attempts to end regulation.
The overtime session belonged to UTPB as the Falcons camped out at the free throw line in the final five minutes, sinking 10-12 from the line and making their final seven attempts while making both of the two field goals attempted in overtime.
Turner led UTPB with 19 points, hitting 8-13 from the field. Heyer contributed 17 points with seven boards and three steals while Dees went a perfect 6-6 from the line to add 16 points.
James Stukes led all players with 24 points, hitting 10-18 shots for St. Edwards.
The Falcons look to keep their hot streak alive this weekend, traveling to Abilene, Texas, for a 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon contest against McMurry.
