Xavier Martin hit a game-winning free throw with three seconds remaining Thursday night as UTPB men's basketball earned a 65-64 win on the road against St. Mary's in a Heartland Conference contest at Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas.

UTPB came out of halftime holding a 38-32 lead, but the Rattlers erased the advantage behind seven straight points to go on top 44-42 at 13:36 of the second half. 

St. Mary's led for much of the next eight minutes, grabbing a four-point lead on a 3-pointer by Bryce Smith at 6:16 to increase the lead to 56-52.

That was the last made field goal of the night for the Rattlers as they missed their last five shot attempts of the night.

The Falcons went on to score the next seven points, taking the lead when Andre Rieder hit a layup and the accompanying free throw after being fouled to go on top 57-56, and a layup from Martin put the Falcons on top 59-56 with 4:29 left to play.

St. Mary's tied the game at 59-59 and 3:31 on the clock with three free throws. The Rattlers ended the night 8-of-10 at the free throw line in the final six minute stretch where they failed to make any of their remaining field goal attempts.

Martin hit another layup to go back in the lead 61-59 at 3:15, and Rieder gave the Falcons the lead again  by making one of two attempts following two at the line from JJ Bolton to grab a 62-61 advantage.

Isaiah Matthews connected on a pair of free throws to give St. Mary's its final lead of the night 63-62 and 1:47 left on the clock, but Martin hit a layup for the game's final lead change to go on top 64-63. 

Matthews had a chance to give St. Mary's the lead at the line, but missed the second of two attempts and Stephan Thompson grabbed the rebound with 30 seconds to give UTPB possession with the shot clock off, and Martin gave the Falcons the final lead on his trip to the line with three seconds remaining.

Codye Hatcher led three UTPB players in double figures with 16 points on the night while Martin scored 15 points and Madison Turner ended the game with 11 points. Seven different Falcons had at least four rebounds on the night with five players tying for the team lead with five.

Matthews led all players with 19 points and seven rebounds for St. Mary's.

UTPB is back in action Saturday afternoon, traveling to Laredo for a 3 p.m. tip at Texas A&M International.