UTPB runs away from Mustangs for first LSC Tourney win - Lone Star Conference Skip To Main Content
Vladimir Cherry

Men's Basketball By Nick Eatman

UTPB runs away from Mustangs for first LSC Tourney win

On the heels of seeing the No. 8 seed pull off the upset in the women’s bracket minutes earlier, UT Permian Basin made sure there wasn’t a repeat performance in the nightcap of Thursday’s quarterfinal round of the Lone Star Conference Basketball Championship.
      The Falcons, the No. 1 seed in their first season in the LSC, fought past Midwestern State, the defending champs of this tournament, 81-70 at the Allen Event Center.
      After watching MSU trim their lead from 14 down to six late in the first half, the Falcons got a 69-foot buzzer-beater from Daeshon Francis that not only pushed the lead to nine at the half, but ignited an 11-0 run that spilled over into the second half.
      MSU got as close as four with 4:24 left and had other chances to cut the lead down to one possession, but never got over the hump. From there, the Falcons kept the Mustangs at bay and hit enough clutch shots and free throws down the stretch.
      The season ends for the Mustangs at 14-14, marking the first time since to finish a year without a winning record since 2008, which is also the last year MSU missed the NCAA tournament.
      The Falcons (24-5), who are still seeking a possible No. 1 seed in next week’s regional tournament, advance to Saturday’s semifinal matchup against the winner of Texas A&M-Commerce and Cameron.
      Francis, the LSC’s Player of the Year, had a team-high 19 points with 11 rebounds and four assists. Sammy Allen had 17 points and 11 boards, while Johnnie Lacy scored 16 points and Josh Morris added 10.
      The Falcons owned the glass, outrebounding Midwestern 40-27. They also nearly doubled MSU in free throw attempts, making 26 of 33, to just 11 of 17 for the Mustangs.
      Brandon Neel had a career-high 27 points for MSU, while Igor Ibaka scored 14 and hauled in 10 rebounds. Senior Pat Smith had 10 points and four steals, but his night and career ended in the second half with a knee injury.
      MSU jumped out to a 15-7 lead early but then went over six minutes without scoring, as the Falcons ripped of a 20-0 run to take control of the game.


 

     











UT Permian Basin Notes
  • UT Permian Basin posted a win in its first appearance in the LSC Tournament as a first-year member
  • UTPB is now 14-1 over its last 15 games and has won five straight.
  • The series between the two teams is tied at 3-3 dating to the 2007-08 season with both squads winning a game on their home court this season
  • The Falcons pieced together a 20-0 run in the first half to turn a 15-7 deficit into a 27-15 lead
  • UTPB outrebounded the Mustangs, 40-27
  • Daeshon Francis posted his fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds
  • Sammy Allen also recorded his fifth double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds
  • Four Falcons scored in double figures
 
Midwestern State Notes
  • This is MSU’s 17th appearance in the LSC Championship, and ninth straight.
  • MSU now has the second highest all-time winning percentage in the history of LSC Championship history. UTPB is 1.000 (1-0) in the tournament.
  • The Mustangs are now 12-5 in LSC Championship first round action.
  • The No. 8 seed is now 0-6 in the current LSC Championship format.
  • MSU was one of only three LSC teams to beat the Falcons in the regular season.
  • Brandon Neel set a new career high with 27 points.He scored over 20 in all three games against UTPB this season.
  • The Mustangs made six of their first eight shots, including three three-pointers.
  • A Pat Smith jumper at the 7:54 mark of the first half snapped a seven minute scoreless drought in the first half. UTPB went on a 20-0 run in that span.
  • MSU held UTPB without a field goal in the final 5:20 of the game, but the Falcons made 13 free throws in that stage.
  • MSU’s smallest deficit of the second half was four points at 70-66 with 3:47 to go. The Mustangs then missed their next four field goal attempts and five of their last six shots.