ODESSA, Texas (January 6, 2025) – Thanks to the generosity and support of Edgardo Madrid & Associates, The University of Texas Permian Basin Athletics Department has announced Taysha Rushton (Women's Basketball) and Alex Matthews (Men's Basketball) as the December Student-Athletes of the Month.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship by Edgardo Madrid & Associates, UTPB Athletics will be recognizing one male and one female student-athlete each month as Student-Athletes of the Month. At the end of the 2024-25 athletics season, one male and one female student-athlete will be selected as UTPB's Student-Athletes of the Year.

Rushton's month included a 38-point game and an average of over 21 points per game in four Lone Star Conference games. In five total games in December, she averaged 17.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals. Rushton was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week on December 9 after pouring in 38 points in the Falcons' thrilling 87-79 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville (Dec. 7). Rushton's 38 points, 11 made field goals and eight made 3-pointers vs. TAMUK are all the most by an LSC player this season. The 38 points were also good for the third most points scored in UTPB history, the most scored by a UTPB player since 2012, and the single-game high for a Falcon against a LSC opponent. Just one week after her outburst against the Javelinas, Rushton scored 11 points in a row and accounted for 13 points during a 20-0 Falcons' run during the third quarter as UTPB got back into the win column with a 64-57 road win at Cameron (Dec. 14). After scoring just two points in the first half, Rushton scored 18 points in the second half and finished with 20 for the game against the Aggies.

Matthews averaged 15.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 steals and shot 53.6 percent (37-69) from the field across six games in December. He recorded a team-high in rebounds in five of the team's six games during the month. During the River City Holiday Classic, Matthews first scored 19 points on 80 percent shooting (8-10) from the field in an 83-60 win over Central Missouri (Dec. 17) before racking up a season-high 26 points on 10-for-17 shooting in a hard-fought 76-62 defeat against No. 2 nationally-ranked Washburn (Dec. 18) the next day. Matthews' 10 made field goals against the Ichabods are tied for the second-most in the LSC this season while his 26 points rank fifth-most in the league.

"Alex has had a great start to the year," said Head Men's Basketball Coach Kyle Tolin. "He had a great year last year and has continued to improve and get better."