ODESSA, Texas (June 26, 2025) – Avalon Munoz of The University of Texas Permian Basin women's basketball team and Tristan Exline of The University of Texas Permian Basin football team were UTPB's nominees for the 2025 Lone Star Conference Athlete of the Year honor.

Nominees for this year's LSC Athlete of the Year awards included individuals who led their teams to top national, regional and conference championship finishes; received LSC and national athletic and academic awards; and earned recognition on All-America, All-Region, All-Conference and All-Tournament lists.

Avalon Munoz – 2025 Lone Star Conference Athlete of the Year Nominee
Munoz is a graduate student point guard from San Antonio, Texas, who was named to the Lone Star Conference All-Defensive Team this past season and led the Falcons' women's basketball team back to the LSC Tournament for the second year in a row. She was one of three Falcons to start in all 29 games this season and averaged 7.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game while leading the Falcons with 114 assists and ranking second with 48 steals and 72 made free throws. Munoz ranked second in the LSC and 40th in the country in individual assist/turnover ratio (+1.75). She also ranked third in the conference in assists per game (3.9) and was fourth in total assists (114).

In UTPB's 67-57 home win over Angelo State University in its LSC opener this season on Saturday, November 23, 2024, Munoz became the Falcons' all-time leader in minutes played with 3,275 minutes at the time. Then with 8:15 to go in the second quarter of UTPB's 68-46 home win over Western New Mexico University on Thursday, January 30, 2025, Munoz hit a long two-point jumper to reach the 1,000-career point mark.

In the UTPB career record books, Munoz ranks first all-time in minutes played (4,063) and is second in games played (134), second in assists (525), second in steals (273), second in free throws made (383), third in rebounds (531), third in points (1,059) and sixth in field goals made (311). She finishes her career just two steals away from passing the school record of 274 steals and just 12 assists away from overtaking the school record of 536 assists.

UTPB Head Women's Basketball Coach Rae Boothe spoke on Munoz, "Av is the best point guard I have ever had and the best in UTPB women's basketball. She played more minutes than any other player in UTPB women's basketball history. She finished second in all-time steals and in all-time assists. She was our leader and took our program to new heights. Off the court, Av was equally impressive. She earned academic honors every semester. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's in computer science. She also worked as a tutor in our success center. Av in a winner in every area of life."

Tristan Exline – 2025 Lone Star Conference Athlete of the Year Nominee
Exline is a sophomore linebacker from China Spring, Texas, who was named the Lone Star Conference Co-Linebacker of the Year and First-Team All-Conference and led the Falcons' football team to an appearance in the Heritage Bowl. He also earned a spot on the D2Football.com Elite 100 Squad Team, the 2024 Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas Non-FBS team, and the 2024 Don Hansen NCAA Division II Honorable Mention All-America team. Exline led the Falcons with 104 total tackles, including 60 solo tackles, and was second with 16 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Exline ranked second in the LSC in tackles for loss, was third in sacks, and ranked fifth in total tackles and sixth in tackles per game (8.7). In NCAA Division II, Exline was tied for 22nd in solo tackles per game (5.0) and ranked 32nd in total tackles per game (8.7).

Exline had four tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss of eight yards, and 2.0 sacks in UTPB's season opener against Western New Mexico (Aug. 31), a performance which garnered him the first LSC Defensive Player of the Week award of the season. Two weeks later, Exline dominated with eight total tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss of 12 yards, 1.5 sacks and an interception in UTPB's 67-14 win over Adams State (Sept. 14) before coming back strong the next week with 15 total tackles, 11 solo tackles, and 4.0 tackles for a loss of eight yards against Texas A&M-Kingsville (Sept. 21). Exline was named the inaugural Edgardo Madrid & Associates Men's Student-Athlete of the Month for September.

As the season progressed, Exline continued to be a force on defense, finishing with 11 solo tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a 64-14 victory at Eastern New Mexico (Nov. 9). He then recorded 14 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in UTPB's regular-season finale at Sul Ross State (Nov. 16). It was his fourth game this season and third game in a row with double-digit tackles. Lastly, in UTPB's heartbreaking 39-37 double overtime loss against No. 25 Central Missouri in the 2024 Heritage Bowl (Dec. 7), Exline recorded eight total tackles and two sacks.