ODESSA -- Texas-Permian Basin outscored ACU 17-8 over the first 10 minutes of the second half Monday night as the Falcons knocked off the Wildcats, 60-50, in a non-conference men's basketball game at The Falcon Dome.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 4-4 overall as they have lost four of their last five games and are 1-4 against NCAA Division II competition this season. The Falcons, meanwhile, improve to 3-4 on the season. ACU will return to action Saturday at 4 p.m. when it hosts Central Oklahoma in a Lone Star Conference crossover game at Moody Coliseum.
ACU led the Falcons 26-25 at halftime and extended the lead to 28-25 just seven seconds into the second half on a layup by
Giordan Cole, who led the Wildcats with 18 points. But Justin Bailey answered with a 3-pointer at the 18:58 mark before Cole hit one of two free throws to give the Wildcats a 29-28 lead with 18:40 to play.
After the teams exchanged baskets with Cole scoring again for the Wildcats, the Falcons went on a 7-0 run that gave them a 37-31 lead with 14:51 to play. Austin Williams capped the run that gave the Falcons for good.
UTPB extended the lead to as many as 12 points in the second half en route to beating the Wildcats for the first time in six tries.
Cole led the Wildcats with 18 points and six rebounds, while
Preston Davis had 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting.
