Coming into tonight Fermandez Jones had scored once in double figures this season.  The talented freshman broke out with a career-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting and knocked down four threes against #5 West Texas A&M.  The Falcons battled back in the second half, once trailing by as many as 16 but came up just short in the 98-84 loss.

Elvin Rodriguez got the offense going for the Falcons (11-6, 4-4) scoring the team's first five points.  The Buffs (13-1, 6-1) used the long ball, hitting five three-pointers, to battle back and retake the lead.  Despite their charge, the Falcons battled and Isaac Hernandez kept things close with a pair of threes.  The game became a battle from the outside as six consecutive baskets were made from long range.  A Miles Washington lay-up made it a one-point ballgame just under two minutes to play before the half but the Buffs closed on an 8-1 run to head into the half with the score 45-37.

The Buffs started the second half on an 11-3 run to push their lead to 16 before Jones buried a three.  Baskets by Brandon Deravine and Washington brought the game back to within single digits.  Threes by Adam Rivera and Donoven Carlisle brought the Falcons to within five and a pair of Jones free throws made it 63-60 for a 17-4 Falcon run.  The Buffs had an answer every time the Falcons cut it to a one-possession game.  Three straight possessions after the Falcons had cut the deficit to three, the Buffs answered with a three or three-point play of their own.  Carlisle knocked down another three making it a two-point game.  Neither team blinked trading baskets back and forth but a Buff three followed by a Falcon turnover ended their chances.  The Buffs started a 7-0 run and made their free throws down the stretch to pull away.

Four Falcons scored in double figures.  Pat Dembley and Rodriguez each scored 13 points, while Dembley distributed the ball to the tune of seven assists.  Washington finished with 12 points along with a team-high eight rebounds.  As a team the Falcons shot 14-of-26 from long range, setting high-water marks on the season for three-pointers made and percentage.

The Falcons are back in action at home on Saturday against Eastern New Mexico with the game scheduled for 4 p.m. at the conclusion of the women's game.