ODESSA, Texas (January 2, 2026) – The University of Texas Permian Basin men's basketball team turned an 18-point deficit in the first half into an eight-point margin at halftime, but in the end, Dallas Baptist University's full-court press provided problems all game long as the Falcons fell 94-72 in their first game of 2026.

UTPB (4-9 overall, 0-5 Lone Star Conference) opened the contest with a 3-pointer by Connor Morris from the top of the key on the assist by Bryceson Burns, but DBU connected on threes on each of its first two possessions, and then turnovers against the press began to play a pivotal role. The Falcons had five turnovers in the first three minutes of the game, leading to an early 12-3 deficit, and had seven turnovers within the first six minutes and 13 turnovers in 13 minutes as well.

DBU (10-4, 4-0), meanwhile, started the game by making six of its first eight shots (75 percent), nine of its first 15 (60 percent), and 14 of its first 24 (58.3 percent) to build out its lead.

DBU led by 18 (32-14) with eight minutes left in the first half before UTPB tried to make it a game. A powerful dunk on an and-one by Rashad Kee on another assist from Burns made it 32-17, and then a 3-pointer by Burns under the five-minute mark got it down to a 10-point game (35-25). That was followed on the next possession with a tip-dunk by Burns to make it 35-27.

Approaching the three-minute mark in the first half, a tip-in by Kyle McElroy found the bottom of the net to make it just a four-point game (35-31), and then a layup by Kee approaching the two-minute mark made it a three-point game (38-35). However, the DBU defense would go on to hold the Falcons to without a point for the next 4:05, stretching into the second half.

Despite committing 16 first-half turnovers, UTPB led 19-17 on points off turnovers and trailed by only eight points at the break.

The Patriots would take a 43-35 lead into the second half and again got off to a great start with their press forcing the issue. In addition, DBU went 4-for-4 from deep in the opening three minutes of the half to increase its lead to 20 points (55-35).

UTPB tried to play its own aggressive defense and get some fastbreak points to stay in the game, but DBU never let the margin dip below 16 points the rest of the way and never below 18 points in the final 10 minutes.

UTPB had nine steals and outscored DBU 23-8 on fastbreak points in the second half, but DBU outrebound the Falcons 13-2 on the offensive glass and 25-12 overall in the final 20 minutes, contributing to a 27-10 advantage in second chance points for the game. In all, the Patriots outrebound the Falcons by 10 both on the offensive glass (20-10) and overall (43-33).

Despite UTPB shooting 52 percent from the field in the second half, the Falcons were 0-for-5 from three throughout the first 18 minutes of the half while DBU sank eight 3-pointers in the final period and made 14 for the game.

Tash Lunday led all scorers with 18 points as he finished a very strong 8-for-9 from the free throw line while also adding a team-high eight rebounds. It was his fourth game in a row and eighth game overall this season with at least 18 points, was his sixth game with at least eight made free throws, and was his ninth game with at least eight rebounds.

Kee finished second on the Falcons in points (15), rebounds (5) and steals (4); and Burns finished with 12 points while adding four assists.

Sharrod Taylor scored nine points and led the squad with five assists in his first game back since December 5, and TJ McKenzie supplied eight points while leading the team with five steals.

For DBU, five players scored at least 12 points, highlighted by the first double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds) of the season for Justin Haire. Both Drew Calderon and Trevor Frank sank four 3-pointers as well.

DBU, which began the day as one of three teams in the LSC with a 3-0 record in conference play, saw its current winning streak improve to eight straight games. The Patriots entered the game averaging a plus-19.1 points differential during their winning streak while shooting 41.8 percent from three during the streak as well.

DBU also entered the New Year ranked second in the country in both turnovers forced per game (23.92) and steals per game (14.4), and ranked third in average turnover margin (+9.9). UTPB limited the Patriots to 11 steals and only a plus-four turnover margin in this one. In addition, UTPB limited a DBU team that ranked first in the LSC in free throw attempts per game to just nine attempts.

UTPB remains at home on Sunday (Jan. 4) to host The University of Texas at Tyler at 3 p.m. inside the Falcon Dome.