UT Permian Basin men's basketball rode a double-digit first half lead to remaining a perfect 6-0 at home as the Falcons defeated Texas A&M - Kingsville 83-76 Thursday night in Odessa.

UTPB raced ahead early to a 14-5 lead behind nine straight points from four different players. 

The Falcons led by as many as 12 points when James McPherson hit a three and Josh Morris put back an offensive rebound for a 19-7 advantage eight minutes into the game.

Texas A&M - Kingsville came back, erasing the lead and pulling within a possession later in the half on a pair of back-to-back 3-pointers, but UTPB stretched the lead back out to seven on three straight layups, and hit four straight free throws to take a 43-34 lead into the half.

UTPB had an answer every time Kingsville made an attempt at a run in the second half, never letting the Javelinas score more than five consecutive points, two different times, before answering with points of its own.

TAMU-K was able to get its deficit down to three points midway through the second half, but the Falcons responded with a free throw from Morris and layup off a steal by Renard Thomas to go back up by six.

UTPB sealed the win by scoring seven points in the final 1:03, including a wide-open layup by Sammy Allen after the Javelinas hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left.

Daeshon Francis paced the Falcons with 20 points and four assists, hitting 10-14 from the line on the night. Johnnie Lacy added 15 points and six rebounds with a pair of threes. Morris contributed 13 points and six rebounds with McPherson hitting a pair beyond the arc with 12 points. Allen came a point shy of a double-double, ending the night with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

UTPB did its damage in the paint, out-scoring Texas A&M - Kingsville 42-12 on the night in the lane.

UTPB is back home Saturday afternoon, hosting Angelo State at 4 p.m.