Carson Newsome carried the Falcons late, scoring 17 of the final 18 points in a dramatic 81-78 overtime victory over Oklahoma Christian.  The junior finished with a team-high 26 points and was 18-of 21 from the free throw line, tying the second most free throws in a game in program history.  The win is the seventh straight Falcon (15-10, 8-8) win over the Eagles (7-12, 6-10).

The teams traded baskets early but it was the Falcons who pulled away early behind some hot shooting from Adam Rivera.  A seven-point stretch by the junior gave the Falcons a five-point cushion almost halfway through the first half.  Rivera had another big scoring run as the minutes closed in the first half.  He broke a 17-17 tie with a three and was followed by a three by Pat Dembley. Rivera sunk a pair of free throws and followed with another three of his own. A four-point play by Elvin Rodriguez gave the Falcons a 33-21 lead heading into the locker room on a 16-4 run.

A Dembley three out of the half pushed the Falcon lead to its largest at 15, but the Eagles began chipping away.  They climbed back into the game and after a two and a half minute stretch where neither team scored, cut the Falcon lead to four.  The Eagles took the lead with 3:39 to go on a three but freshman Fermandez Jones answered with a three on the next possession.  The Falcons stayed  just ahead down the stretch, forcing the Eagles to tie instead of trading leads.  With 19 seconds left the Eagles tied things at 68 and the game went into overtime after the Falcons missed on their final possession.  

The overtime period was all Newsome, who scored the final five in regulation and added 12 in the overtime period.  Newsome kept the Falcons in front the entire overtime period as the Falcons took control of the period early.  On the other side Johnatan Reyes scored seven of the 10 Eagle points in overtime.

Including Newsome, four Falcons scored in double figures.  Rivera had 15 off the bench while Dembley finished with 12 and Donoven Carlisle finished with 10.  Rivera and Newsome led the team on the boards with eight a piece.  Newsome finished shot of the program record of 23 free throws in a single game set by Daeshon Francis in 2018.

The Falcons are back in action Saturday against UAFS with tip-off set for around 4 PM.