UT Permian Basin men's basketball won its sixth straight game and improved to 16-4 on the season and 8-3 in the Lone Star Conference Saturday afternoon with an 85-67 win on the road at Eastern New Mexico in Portales, N.M.

UTPB trailed twice in the first minute and a half of the game, but then took over, building its lead up to 11 points at 9:54 of the first half on a James McPherson 3-pointer to lead 24-13. 

The Falcons led by as many as 14 points in the first half with a 35-21 lead on baskets by Josh Morris and Stephen Powell, and took a 42-34 lead into the break.

UT Permian Basin controlled the first half despite a slow start from both teams due to a 28-18 rebounding advantage in the first 20 minutes.

Eastern New Mexico hit a pair of threes early in the half to pull within five and seven points, respectively, but UTPB responded each time. The Falcons never led by fewer than 10 points the rest of the gam after a Daeshon Francis layup put the team ahead 52-42 with 16:41 remaining.

Francis and McPherson led the team with 22 points each, both shooting 50 percent from the field or higher. McPherson hit 6-10 from 3-point range, and Francis grabbed seven rebounds and had a team-high six assists. Josh Morris added 15 points on nearly-perfect 6-7 shooting, and Sammy Allen led the Falcons in limited minutes with 12 rebounds in just 21 minutes.

UTPB takes on Arlington Baptist at home this Tuesday before jumping back into conference action Saturday afternoon against West Texas A&M.