A tough road loss for #12 UT Permian Basin dropped them to the second seed in the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament. The offense couldn't get it going in the 85-56 loss to Texas A&M – Commerce.

Josh Morris led UTPB in scoring with 18 points on 7-14 shooting.

Commerce came out hot taking an 11-0 lead into the first media timeout before Sammy Allen gave UTPB their first points of the game. The teams traded baskets before another 12-0 Commerce run put them up 36-17 with four minutes to go in the first half. James McPherson knocked down a three-pointer to stop the run and after giving up a basket, UTPB ended the half on a 7-0 run to make it a 38-27 game at the half.

A pair of Daeshon Francis free throws cut the lead to nine before Commerce went on another run. Back to back three-pointers by Aaron Horne and Willie Rooks pushed the lead back to 18. A three by McPherson followed by a lay-up and three-pointer by Amari Bryant cut the lead to 12 with 14:20 to go before another Commerce run to push the game out of hand.

Francis finished with 12 points, shooting 10-14 from the free throw line, along with six rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Allen added six points and a team-high 14 rebounds in the effort.

Rooks lead Commerce with 24 points and knocked down five three-pointers. Reggie Reid added 21 points and five assists. Commerce shot 57.1 percent in the second half.

UTPB travels to Frisco for the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament starting Friday at the Dr Pepper Arena. The Falcons will play their first game of the championships at 2:30 p.m.