UTPB men's basketball was unable to take advantage of a 10-0 second half run as well as a 10 point lead with 2:04 remaining as St. Mary's scored the final nine points of the half in the last 1:30 to send the game to overtime, where the Rattlers closed out with the final six points of the night in a 79-71 defeat of UTPB.

The Falcons trailed by as many as nine points in the early part of the second half, but four quick points by Madison Turner cut the lead down to five. After a dunk by Ife Eke that put the Rattlers back on top by seven, Thomas Feeney hit a bucket and Anthony Dees sunk a 3-pointer to pull UTPB within a possession to 48-46. Dwayne Soders hit a pair of free throws to even the game at 48-48, and Andre Reider tipped in a missed shot and hit a free throw after being fouled under the basket to give UTPB its first lead of the second half at 51-48 at 9:21 of the second.

Five consecutive points by Feeney, a layup off a missed 3-pointer and a triple of his own with just over two minutes remaining helped the Falcons to their laregest lead of the night at 66-56.

UTPB was unable to close out the win in regulation, scoring just one point in the final 2:04 while committing three turnovers as the Rattlers scored on five of their final six possessions, their lone empty possession coming with the game tied on a missed basket and six seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.

Soders helped UTPB to a one-point lead with 2:43 remaining in OT, hitting three of four free throws after St. Mary's scored on its first possession of the bonus period. 

St. Mary's responded by hitting its next three field goals, the final two a jumper and 3-pointer by Marvin Whitt, to reclaim the lead by five points with just 36 seconds to play.

Whitt put the game away at the line, hitting 3-of-4 attempts to go ahead by eight as UTPB failed to score away from the free throw line in the final five minutes.

Feeney led all players with 24 points on the night, tying his season-high. Soders added 20 points with a game-high nine rebounds.

Whitt had a team-high 23 points for the Rattlers, one of four players in double figures for St. Mary's.

The Falcons stay at home this week, hosting Arlington Baptist in an exhibition game Tuesday night at 6 p.m.