UT Permian Basin football hung with Western New Mexico through most of the first half of Saturday evening's Lone Star Conference football contest, but the Mustangs scored 28 points in just over 10 points around halftime and used a pair of kick returns in the second half for touchdowns to defeat the Falcons 68-17 at Ratliff Stadium.

Trailing 14-3 in the first half, the Falcons took advantage of a missed fake punt rush when Kameron Mathis found Mitchell Leonard from 23 yards out for the TD to pull UTPB within a possession at 14-10 with 8:35 remaining in the second quarter.

Western New Mexico put together two scoring drives to end the first half, the second on a 10-yard pass with three seconds left to hold the 27-10 halftime lead.

WNMU scored twice in 4:16 after the intermission, the first on a fumble recovery from 27 yards out on the first UTPB drive of the second half.

UTPB added another touchdown at 8:14 of the third quarter as Jason McAfee rushed in from 20 yards out for the score.

Brandon Infiesto led the Falcons with 94 yards on the ground, averaging 6.7 yards per carry as the Falcons rushed for 197 on the night to lead both teams.

Terrell Davidson had a team-best 58 yards on three receptions.

UTPB hits the road for the first time this season next weekend, traveling to Stephenville, Texas, for a 7 p.m. contest against Tarleton State.