The bad news for the UTPB men’s basketball team? The Falcons are coming off two-consecutive losses from last week.
The good news? UTPB remains in first place in the Lone Star Conference West Division.
Such is the good part about beginning conference play 8-3 that the Falcons’ losses last week haven’t been the needle popping the balloon that is their season.
There’s plenty of conference basketball remaining.
UTPB currently sits at 12-5 overall, 8-3 in Lone Star Conference play.
However, UTPB will be looking to rebound from their losses to Lubbock Christian and Midwestern State when they go on the road this week to face St. Edward’s and St. Mary’s.
>> OVERTIME WOES: Not only is head coach Kyle Tolin and his players coming off consecutive losses but they’re also coming off consecutive losses that required overtime.
UTPB was dealt an 84-75 loss to Lubbock Christian last Thursday before falling 80-74 to Midwestern State on Saturday, both games at Falcon Dome.
The Falcons have yet to win a game that has required overtime this season.
>> BRUTAL OT PERIODS: Not only have the Falcons lost in overtime the last two games but they struggled to get much going after regulation.
Against the Chaparrals, UTPB was outscored 12-3 in overtime as Lubbock Christian had no trouble in pulling through.
Against Midwestern State, it wasn’t much better as the Falcons couldn’t even score a basket in overtime against the Mustangs, being outscored 6-0.
Midwestern State needed only a 3-pointer, along with two free throws from Will Shepherd and a free throw by Pierre Sanders to finish off UTPB.
>> SECOND HALF WOES: If it wasn’t overtime woes that did UTPB in, it was also second half play.
The Falcons played well in the first half against both Lubbock Christian and Midwestern State but couldn’t finish the second 20 minutes on the right note.
Against Lubbock Christian, the Falcons had a 36-33 lead before being outscored 39-36 in the second half.
Against Midwestern State, the Falcons had an even bigger lead at the break, building a 38-25 advantage before the break, only to be outscored 49-36 in the second half.
>> TOUGH TESTS: While the Falcons remain in first place in their division, they’ll have another challenge this week when they go on the road.
St. Edward’s sits at 11-8, 5-5. UTPB will face St. Edward’s at 7 p.m. Thursday in Austin.
Things will get a little more challenging, two days later, when UTPB faces Lone Star Conference East Division leader St. Mary’s (12-4, 9-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in San Antonio.
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