MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: UTPB gets a little help from its friends

If UTPB completes an improbable run to the Heartland Conference men’s basketball tournament, it will credit the fans at the Falcon Dome Monday night with an assist.

The Falcons, who started 0-5 in conference play, began the day a half-game behind Arkansas-Fort Smith for the fourth and final spot in the conference tournament. The other team in the running for that berth, Dallas Baptist, went to the free-throw line with a chance to tie or win with .8 seconds remaining in Monday’s game.

A large chunk of the 450 fans in attendance — including members of UTPB’s women’s basketball and baseball teams — huddled near the right corner of the court and yelled as loudly as they could when Dallas Baptist’s Jordan McGowen stepped to the line on the same end of the floor. McGowen, a 77.5-percent free-throw shooter for the season, missed both shots as the Falcons held on for a 52-51 win.

“They knew just as much as we did how big this game was, so I’m glad they were here to do that,” UTPB senior Mike Akins said. “I can’t thank them enough.”

UTPB (14-13 overall, 7-6 conference), which won for the seventh time in eight conference games, is now tied with Arkansas-Fort Smith (14-13, 7-6), which ends its regular season Saturday at Dallas Baptist (14-12, 5-7). If the Falcons win their regular-season finale at home Saturday against St. Edward’s (11-14, 3-10), they’re guaranteed to at least have a play-in game for the right to reach the conference tourney.

UTPB wouldn’t have that chance if not two other unlikely heroes. Akins and fellow senior Elijah Jordan, who have played limited roles for the Falcons this season, came off the bench and led the way down the stretch.

After UTPB trailed 38-35 with 13 minutes left in the game, Akins and Jordan combined to score all 10 of their team’s points during the next nine minutes. Akins’ layup on a drive-and-dish by Jordan tied the game 45-45 with 4:08 left, and Akins later produced the Falcons’ final points when he stole the ball near midcourt and passed to Jalen Jarrett for a breakaway layup.

Jordan, who got his most extensive playing time since the season opener on Nov. 11, finished with nine points and a team-high six rebounds. Akins, who was suspended for three games earlier this season for UTPB coach Dwain Osborne called “attitude detrimental to the team,” logged 15 of his 23 minutes in the second half and finished with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

Osborne said the Falcons have several interchangeable wing players — including Akins, Jordan, Ke’Andre Derrick and Madison Turner — and the decision to stick with Akins and Jordan late in the game was based on a gut feeling.

“Everybody gets a turn, so to speak, and whoever does the best at their turn, we roll with them a little bit longer,” Osborne said. “If they start playing bad we pull them, or if they’re playing well, we go with it.”

Senior starters Erik Martin and Louis Crane also came through for the Falcons. Martin scored a team-high 13 points and got the win-securing rebound after McGowen’s second missed free throw, and the point guard Crane provided a shooting spark early and late.

Crane scored seven of the Falcons’ first nine points as they raced out to an early lead. Then, with 3:06 left and the game tied, he nailed their only 3-pointer after halftime to give the team its first lead since early in the second half.

“That’s what Louis does. Louis is the shot-maker,” Jordan said. “He handles pressure so well.”

Post player Nick Fox led Dallas Baptist with game highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds. But the Patriots only got nine points total from McGowen and TJ Clark, who were averaging more than 29 points per game combined.

Dallas Baptist still gave the ball to McGowen with the game on the line, and the 6-foot-6 forward had a chance to deliver a win after being fouled by Madison Turner on a jumper along the baseline.

“He’s a senior, he’s one of the best players in our league, and there’s nobody else I’d rather have in that position,” Dallas Baptist coach Blake Flickner said. “That’s all you can ask for on the road against a good team is to have a chance at the end of the game, and we had that chance. We just came up short.”

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>> UTPB 52, Dallas Baptist 51

DALLAS BAPTIST (14-12 overall, 5-7 Heartland Conference)

TJ Clark 3-3 0-0 6, Jordan McGowen 0-3 3-6 3, Armie Lewis 1-5 0-0 2, Wesley Gipson 1-3 2-3 4, Nick Fox 8-14 5-7 22, Russ Johnson 2-2 0-0 5, Ishmael Awange 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Marsh 2-2 1-2 5, Donovan Bridgeforth 1-3 2-2 4. Totals 18-35 13-20 51.

UTPB (14-13, 7-6)

Jalen Jarrett 1-3 0-0 2, Erik Martin 4-10 4-5 13, Louis Crane 4-12 0-0 13, Madison Turner 0-5 0-0 0, Klein Harper 1-2 0-0 2, Mike Akins 5-6 2-2 12, Branden Harrison 2-3 0-0 4, Rodney Hudson 0-0 0-0 0, Ke’Andre Derrick 0-1 0-0 0, Elijah Jordan 3-8 2-2 9. Totals 20-50 8-9 52.

Halftime – UTPB 30, Dallas Baptist 29. 3-Point goals – Dallas Baptist 2-9 (McGowen 0-2, Lewis 0-2, Gipson 0-1, Fox 1-3, Johnson 1-1), UTPB 4-25 (Jarrett 0-1, Martin 1-6, Crane 2-8, Turner 0-5, Akins 0-1, Jordan 1-4). Total fouls – Dallas Baptist 14, UTPB 18. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None. Rebounds – Dallas Baptist 30 (Fox 10), UTPB 22 (Jordan 6). Assists – Dallas Baptist 8 (Fox 3), UTPB 15 (Turner 5).