For the third straight home game, UT Permian Basin gave the home fans a thriller.  This time they outlasted Texas A&M - Commerce 83-82 on Donoven Carlisle's free throw with just three seconds left.  The game was hotly contested back and forth affair as neither team held a lead larger than nine.  The lead changed hands 15 times including nine times in the final six minutes of action.  Carlisle finished with 18 points, Pat Dembley finished with a double-double, and Carson Newsome returned to the line-up to score 22 points off the bench.  The Lions came into the game ranked 9th in the South Central Region and the Falcons have now won four-straight in Odessa over the Lions.  It's the third straight win overall for the Falcons.

The Falcons (14-8, 7-6) held the largest lead of the first half at nine thanks in part to an 11-0 run.  The Lions (13-6, 9-4) answered and on a late 9-0 run, took a 40-37 lead into the locker room.  Back to back threes early in the second half pushed the Lion lead to nine, their largest of the game.  A layup by Newsome and an Adam Rivera three cut the deficit to four before the teams traded baskets.  Both teams had an answer for the other but the Falcons drained three threes in a row to make the score 67-65 with 7:45 to go. Carlisle went on a 6-0 personal run and put the Falcons back in front 71-70 at the five minute mark.  The lead went back and forth as Dembley scored 9-of-10 for the Falcons and put them ahead 81-79 with 1:17 on the clock.  The Lions hit a three with under a minute to go to retake the lead at 82-81.

With 45 seconds remaining Newsome drove and got to the line and tied things with a free throw.  The Lions missed a three on the ensuing possession setting the Falcons up to have the final shot.  Dembley found Carlisle down low, drawing contact to go to the line.  Carlisle hit the second free throw giving the team a one-point lead.  The Lions turned over the ensuing throw in with a travel sealing the deal for the Falcons in the 83-82 thriller.

Newsome was the game's high scorer, scoring his 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting and was +18 on the floor for the Falcons.  Dembley finished the evening with 16 points and 10 rebounds and dished out six assists.  The senior was a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line.  Carlisle finished with 18 on 8-of-14 shooting and made only 1-of-2 free throws but made it count.  Fermandez Jones finished with 10 points in a starting role.

The Falcons hit the road to take on Eastern New Mexico next Thursday in Portales.