UT Permian Basin took advantage of an early turnover for a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, but Tarleton State scored five touchdowns in the first half on their way to a 35-13 win over the Falcons Saturday night at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas.

The Falcons took over early in the first few minutes when John O'Kelley nabbed his first interception of the season, and Chris Hoad recovered O'Kelley's fumble to take it to the Tarleton 15. Two plays later, LeRoy Giles scampered in from 15 yards out for the 6-0 lead.

Tarleton answered on its next possession, capping off a 70-yard drive with a 24 yard touchdown run byh Daniel McCants.

The Texans scored on their next offensive possession on a 61-yard touchdown, but the score was negated by an ineligible lineman downfield.

But Tarleton scored on the drive with a 38 yard reception by J. F. Thomas in the front corner of the end zone for a 12-6 lead.

The Falcons marched right down the field as Taylor Null found Kristian Brown two different times, the first on a 31-yard catch and then two plays later for a 35-yard touchdown dropped perfectly behind the TSU defensive back for a 13-12 UTPB lead.

Ben Holmes drove the Texans down the field for their third touchdown of the first quarter, scoring on a 17 yard pass to Zimari Manning to go back ahead 19-13.

Daniel McCants added his second touchdown of the night for Tarleton on their next possession to lead 25-13 as Jaques Tyler blocked his second extra point of the game.

Holmes and Manning connected late in the second quarter for their second TD of the game as Tarleton State went ahead 31-13 with 3:58 remaining in the first half.

Tarleton State got their only points of the third quarter on a 29 yard field goal with three minutes remaining in the 3^rd. Josh Terrell ended Tarleton's first drive of the second half with a forced fumble and fumble recovery deep in UTPB territory on the six-yard line.

UTPB stopped TSU in the red zone for the third time in the half, stuffing the Texans on a 4^th-and-1 with a one-yard loss.

Brown ended the game leading the Falcons with 77 yards on four catches.

Null was 18-41 on the night passing, with one TD and an interception.

Chris Hoad led a group of four defenders that finished in double digits in tackles with 15 total tackles for the game.

The Falcons return home next week, hosting Western New Mexico Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.