UTPB men's basketball earned its second win of the season against St. Edward's, erasing a 15-point first half Hilltopper lead for a 96-87 win in Heartland Conference action Thursday night in Odessa.

St. Edward's (16-5, 8-5) broke away halfway through the first, hitting four-straight 3-point attempts in stretching out a 13-10 lead to 28-13 with 8:49 to play in the first half.

The Falcons got the score back within a single possession behind 12 straight points. Malcolm Hill-Bey hit a layup and forced a steal, getting Chris Griffin to the line for three after getting fouled on a 3-point attempt. Griffin sank all three from the line to cut the lead down to 34-25 and a pair of baskets on the team's next two possessions from Lamar Falley pulled UTPB within 34-29. A 3-pointer from Griffin at 3:19 left the Falcons trailing by two.

The Falcons tied the game at 36-36 on another lay in from Hill-Bey, and took the lead on a layup from Codye Hatcher at 2:15 of the first. Hatcher scored again with 37 seconds remaining to send UTPB into the half with a 42-38 lead.

UTPB poured on the points after halftime, scoring 17 in the first four minutes of the second half to five for St. Edward's to go on top 59-43.

A 3-pointer from Andre Reider from the left corner gave the Falcons a game-high 18-point, 64-46 lead with 12:22 remaining.

St. Edward's cut into the UTPB advantage, getting within eight points and just under eight minutes left to play, but a basket from Falley along with a three from Griffin stopped the St. Edward's scoring and put the Falcons back ahead by 13.

The Hilltoppers got as close as six points two different times in the final minute, but Malcolm Pope was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line to close out the nine point win.

Griffin led the Falcons with 25 points on the night, finishing a near-perfect 8-of-9 from the field with a 4-of-5 night behind the arc from deep and nine rebounds. Hatcher followed with 22 points and 19 rebounds, the best effort an individual has had on the glass for UTPB this season. Madison turner added 12 points and a game-high seven assists.

UTPB finished the night hitting 51 percent from the field despite a slow start to the night. The Falcons hit 17-of-28 of theif field goal attempts in the second half while holding St. Edward's to 16-of-42 after halftime (38 percent).

Ramir Burton led the Hilltoppers with 25 points on the evening.

UTPB is back in action Monday night as part of a four-game homestand, hosting Dallas Baptist at 5:30 p.m.