ODESSA, Texas (February 19, 2026) – The UT Permian Basin men's basketball team and Midwestern State University battled as if they had nothing to lose, and in the end, it was the Falcons who came out on top 105-99 in double overtime.

UTPB (10-15 overall, 6-11 Lone Star Conference) improves to 4-0 this season in overtime games, including 3-0 in double overtime.

The Falcons saw some great all-around individual efforts as six players scored in double figures, five players grabbed at least seven rebounds, and four players had at least three assists.

TJ McKenzie tied for the game-high with 24 points, was 9-for-19 from the field, 2-for-5 from three and 4-for-4 from the free throw line, and added seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Tash Lunday recorded a dominant double-double with 21 points and 15 rebounds. He was 10-for-11 from the charity stripe and also added four assists.

Sharrod Taylor approached triple-double territory with 20 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. He also made five 3-pointers and added three steals as well. His 26 field goal attempts and 18 3-point attempts are both the most in a single game in the LSC this season.

Bryceson Burns recorded 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks; Brady Watson had 11 points on 3-for-4 shooting from three; Rashad Kee had 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting; and despite scoring just two points, Kyle McElroy still made his impact felt with seven rebounds and solid defense.

In the first three minutes and change of double overtime, Lunday twice went 2-for-2 at the free throw line, tying the game both times, and then with 1:08 on the clock, he again sank both shots to give UTPB its first lead of the final period (99-97). Lunday then improved to 8-for-8 at the line in double overtime, making two more shots to make it a 101-97 lead with only 37.2 seconds remaining.

Then after two free throws by McKenzie to make it 103-97 with 29 seconds left, McKenzie came up with a steal and took it the other way for a fastbreak layup to seal the win.

Free throw shooting was the deciding factor in double overtime as UTPB was a perfect 10-for-10 while MSU did not shoot a free throw in the second overtime. The Falcons were also a combined 12-for-13 (92.3 percent) from the line between the two overtime periods while MSU was just 3-for-5 (60.0 percent).

Lunday (8) and McKenzie (6) combined to score all 14 of UTPB's points in the second overtime period. In all between both overtimes, McKenzie scored 12 points and had three defensive rebounds. McKenzie also had two defensive rebounds and two steals during the second overtime.

In the first half, there were four ties and four lead changes, and the two teams were within 35 seconds of possession time of each other (9:09-8:34 in favor of UTPB). The teams combined for seven more ties and three more lead changes in the second half, one tie and two lead changes in the first overtime, and two ties and two lead changes in the second overtime. In all, there were 14 ties and 11 lead changes.

UTPB finished the game with a season-high 63 rebounds, a season-high 24 offensive rebounds, and made 13 3-pointers compared to five for MSU. UTPB also set LSC-highs for a single game this season with its 63 rebounds and its 95 field goal attempts.

The UTPB defense held an MSU offense that was shooting 47.2 percent (25 of 53) from 3-point distance over its last three games to just 22.7 percent (5 of 22) on Thursday. The Falcons also limited Jonathan Jackson, a player who coming into the game ranking fourth in the nation in 3-point accuracy and led the LSC at 46 percent (57 of 124) shooting from 3-point range, to a 1-for-5 mark from three.

Within the first six minutes of the game, UTPB sank four 3-pointers by four different players, giving an early indication of what was to come.

A strong two-handed slam by Burns made it an early 22-17 lead for the Falcons, but after scoring 22 points in the first eight minutes of the game, they would be held to just 19 points for the remainder of the first half as MSU took a 45-41 halftime lead.

UTPB did not shoot its first free throw until with 18:25 left in the second half (by Burns), but free throws would play a pivotal role in the end.

Four minutes into the second half, the score was tied at 50-50 after two 3-pointers by Taylor bookended an 8-0 Falcons' run. UTPB then proceeded to take the lead three times in the next three minutes, but each and every time, MSU was able to answer and tie the game again.

Finally, after a layup by Kee with 12:37 left broke the tie for the fourth straight time (60-58), this time UTPB was able to expand its lead and went up 65-60 on a huge baseline flush by Burns, his second highlight dunk of the game, with 9:15 left in regulation.

UTPB would hold onto the lead until the four-minute mark when MSU tied it at 71-71.

"We battled out another tough double-overtime win," said Head Coach Kyle Tolin. "Brady Watson was great for us on both ends of the floor tonight and really gave us a big lift."

Trailing 75-73 with three minutes left in regulation, Watson took over with back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Falcons back in front 79-75 with under two minutes to play, and then in the first overtime, UTPB led 87-81 after a 3-pointer by Taylor with one minute left, but both times UTPB could not hold onto the lead as MSU forced double overtime.

Next up, the Falcons will have a tough one in their final home game of the season against No. 10 nationally-ranked Lubbock Christian University on Saturday, February 21, during Senior Day. Prior to the start of the game, the Falcons will honor their seniors with tipoff scheduled for 3 p.m. inside the Falcon Dome.