UT Permian Basin football hung with Eastern New Mexico for over a half Saturday night, staying within a possession with the Greyhounds into the third quarter, but quarterback Wyatt Strand ran for three touchdowns in a 10-minute span to leave Odessa with a 34-3 victory at Ratliff Stadium.

Eastern New Mexico scored the first points of the night on a nine-yard touchdown by Tayshawn Gary to cap a 12-play, 81 yard drive to start the game.

The teams traded field goals in the second quarter, UTPB scoring its only points on the night when Bailey Giffen connected from 36 yards. Bailey Hale came through from 47 yards when his attempt banged off the right upright and knocked through for three points.

UTPB looked poised to have a chance to tie the game on its first possession of the second half. Jake Anglin moved the Falcons 45 yards down the field to the ENMU 30 yard line on a 45-yard reception down the middle of the field. Jordan Williams ran the ball three straight plays, ripping off a 14-yard rush in the middle to pull the Falcons down to the eight yard line, and a pass interference in the end zone left UTPB with first and goal on the two. But a turnover on a fumble at the Greyhound two yard line on the next play turned the ball back over to Eastern New Mexico.

The UTPB defense stood strong, forcing a three and out to get the ball back at the Eastern New Mexico 39 yard line, but Strand responded by rattling off three straight scoring drives that led to him running the ball into the end zone for touchdowns.

The Falcons led the leading rushing team in the Lone Star Conference to just 4.1 yards per carry as the Greyhounds racked up 251 total yards on 61 rushing attempts. But ENMU set a season-high in passing yards, throwing for 273 yards on 13 completions.

Brandon Infiesto led the Falcons with 66 yards on 14 caries, and Jake Anglin caught three passes for 57 yards to lead the receivers.

Chris Hoad was all over the field for UTPB on defense, recording 18 total tackles (eight solo, 10 assists) with three tackles for 10 total yards lost.

UTPB is back in action on the road next week, traveling to Kingsville, Texas, for a contest against Texas A&M - Kingsville at 7 p.m.