Pat Dembley became just the second player in UT Permian Basin Men's Basketball history to score 600 points in a single season Thursday night as the Falcons took on #8 St. Edward's. Junior
Donoven Carlisle recorded his first double-double with a career night, a 20-point, 16-rebound outburst. Despite their efforts it wasn't enough as the Falcons fell to the number eight team in the country 94-81.
It was
Miles Washington who got things going early for the Falcons (15-12, 8-10) by scoring their first four points of the contest. A three by
Fermandez Jones pushed the Falcon lead to four early, but the Hilltoppers bounced back. Washington continued his hot start, scoring back to back baskets again to give him eight of the first 17 Falcon points. The Falcon offense went cold allowing an extended Hilltopper run to gain control of the contest. Back to back offensive possessions with a three-point play by Carlisle and
Elvin Rodriguez got the Falcons right back in tha game, but the Hilltoppers couldn't miss and went into the locker room up 52-34.
The teams came out trading baskets until a
Malik Anderson three sparked a 6-0 Falcon run to cut in to the deficit. Two free throws by Dembley, a Calrisle lay-up and a Dembley three and suddenly the Falcons trailed by just 10. The Hilltoppers got hot, once again pushing their lead to a game-high 21 but the Falcons never relented. Carlisle scored seven points in an 11-0 Falcon run to make it a 10-point game with just under two minutes to play. By then it was too late, as the Hilltoppers worked the clock and hit their free throws down the stretch.
Dembley led the Falcons with 21 points on the night. Carlisle finished with his 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting while grabbing 11 of his 16 rebounds on the defensive end. Washington finished with 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Anderson came within a point of a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. The Falcons crashed the glass out rebounding the Hilltoppers 43-34 on the night.
The Falcons are back in action Saturday as they head to San Antonio to take on St. Mary's.
