UT-Permian Basin came back from trailing by as many as 16 points in the second half to take a two-point lead two different times, but the Falcons never quite got over the hump down the stretch as they lost their sixth Heartland Conference road game out of seven attempts 97-83 Monday night against Dallas Baptist in Dallas.

The Patriots doubled up their eight point lead early in the second half as a pair of 3-pointers by Joey Miller helped DBU to a 16-point, 62-46 advantage with more than 17 minutes to play.

The Falcons fought back to get the score into single digits as part of a 10-0 run, capped by five straight points by Mario Fleurima as his 3-pointer pulled UTPB within two points at 67-65.

UTPB went ahead for the first time in the second half when Gary Akbar hit a layup off of a steal by Anthony Knight to claim a 79-78 lead. A free throw by Fleurima and a three from Johnnie Lacy helped the Falcons to a two-point advantage on back to back possessions, the final coming at 6:08 of the second, but Dallas Baptist went back ahead on a three-point play and never gave back possession of being ahead over the final six minutes.

THe Falcons were able to get within a pair of points three different times in the final two minutes, but Dallas Baptist hit its final six free throws in crunch time, and wrapped the game up with an open court dunk for the 97-93 lead with just six seconds to play.

Lacy had maybe his best game of the year for the Falcons, hitting 9-14 from the field, 5-9 from 3-point range and all nine of his free throw attempts to lead all scorers in the game with 32 points. Akbar hit 8-12 from the floor to add 18 on the night, and Fleurima contributed three 3's for 12 points with Malcom Hill-Bey adding 11 points, each in reserve rolls.

The Falcons shot lights out in both halves, hitting 50 percent of its field goals in the opening half and connecting on 20 of 31 attempts to shoot 64 percent in the second half.

Miller paced the DBU offense with 26 points on the night.

The Falcons remain on the road this weekend, heading to Laredo Thursday night for a 7:30 p.m. contest at Texas A&M International.