OPSU Pulls Out a Win

Goodwell, Okla.-The Oklahoma Panhandle State University men’s basketball
team (5-18, 1-9 HC) took fans on a roller coaster ride in Oscar Williams
Field House on Saturday, leading the University of Texas of the Permian
Basin Falcons (10-9, 5-5 HC) at one point by 13, then plunging in the second
half, taking until the last seconds to win by one.

Even though the Falcons scored first, the Aggies went to work quickly. A
steal by Michael Patterson set up a three-point shot by Damar Hill to put
OPSU in front by four with three minutes off the clock. That prompted an
Aggie scoring run as they scored 15 points to the Falcon’s seven to lead by
13 with about eight minutes left in the first half. OPSU left the court for
halftime with a 31-22 lead.

The Aggie men maintained a comfortable lead through the first five minutes
of the second half, but the Falcons began to cut into the OPSU lead with two
three-point shots plus a steal and subsequent layup. Meanwhile, OPSU could
not get shots to fall, and with 12 minutes left in the game, they held a
precarious two-point lead. UTPB took a one-point lead, their first of the
second half, with just over six minutes left on the clock. Lee hit a trey to
put the home team up by two and Falcon Keith Martin tied it at 49 all with a
layup. The Aggies again took the lead, but the Falcons responded and took a
one point lead again with three minutes left in the game. What followed
seemed like an eternity for fans sitting on the edge of their seats. OPSU
missed four agonizing shots and the game dragged out with both sides calling
time outs. With just over a minute left, UTPB missed a trey, and OPSU missed
a jump shot. Finally, with seven seconds left, Patterson hit the
game-winning layup.

Lee earned his first double double of the season with 13 points matched by
13 rebounds. Patterson added 10 points and Damar Hill chipped in nine.

The men play on the road next week, traveling to Wichita, Kan. for a game
with Newman University on Feb. 14 and continuing on to the University of
Arkansas-Ft. Smith on Feb. 16.

Goodwell, Okla.-The women’s basketball team from the University of Texas of
the Permian Basin (15-5, 8-1 HC) claimed sole possession of first place in
the Heartland Conference on Saturday as they beat Oklahoma Panhandle State
University, 84-53.

The Falcons took the lead from the beginning of the game and at halftime,
they had a 41-24 lead. They continued the quest in the second half,
eventually beating the Aggies by 31. Whitley Coca led the Aggie scoring with
18. Da’Veonna Munson scored 13 and went 6-6 at the free throw line while
Meagan Bell put up 10 and was also perfect at the charity stripe with 4-4.
Coca, Munson, and Sharice Papaleo grabbed six rebounds each. UTPB’s Taniqua
Ards put on a shooting school, going 9-14 from the field, putting up 27
points.

On Feb. 14, the women face Newman University in Wichita, Kan., a team that
beat them at home by only three in their first meeting. They then travel to
Ft. Smith, Ark. to match up with the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith on
Feb. 16 and hope to chalk up another win against the Lady Lions.

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