AUSTIN – UT Permian Basin hit a baseline jumper at the buzzer to complete the comeback and hand St. Edward's men's basketball their first conference loss of the year 66-65.
UTPB rallied back from a nine point deficit with 3:33 to go to eventually take the lead 64-63.
DANIEL VENZANT had the answer with a driving layup with just ten seconds left to give the lead back to the Hilltoppers. During a strong defensive possession, SEU knocked the ball out of bounds on the baseline to give the Falcons one more shot. Daniels hit the game winner from 13 feet out with just three tenths of a second remaining.
Defenses controlled the first half as both teams struggled to find a rhythm offensively. As the half winded down, SEU posted their largest lead thus far, eight points, leading 30-22 with 2:38 to go until halftime. That is the last field goal the Hilltoppers would have before the break, however, allowing the Falcons to pull within two, 30-28.
St. Edward's held UTPB to 35.7 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from three point range in the half, but shot just 37 percent from the field and 25 percent from long distance themselves.
SEU started the second half strong and led by nine, 43-34, with 15:55 to play. UT Permian Basin got within two, 48-46, with just over 12 minutes to play, but the Hilltoppers went up by nine once again with 3:33 to go. SEU's offense went silent as they didn't score another field goal until Venzant's layup with ten seconds to go, allowing the Falcons to get back in the game.
SEU shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half but just 21 percent from three point range while the Falcons hit five from long range in the frame.
UCHE DIBIAMAKA led all scorers with 20 point, going 8-17 from the field.
MASON HIX added 12 points and Venzant ten.
The Hilltoppers also won the rebounding battle 35-31 with
LOGAN COOK leading with nine boards.
St. Edward's falls to 8-5 on the year and 1-1 in Lone Star Conference play while UTPB improves to 9-3 overall and 1-0 in conference action. SEU returns to the road to take on Midwestern State on Thursday at 7:30 pm.
