WICHITA FALLS Daeshon Francis’ three-point play, along with a pair of free throws by Sammy Allen, lifted the UTPB men’s basketball team to a 79-76 victory against Midwestern State in Lone Star Conference play Friday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
Josh Morris led the Falcons (19-3 overall, 11-2 in conference) with game-high 27 points, with Francis added 24 and Allen 12 in the victory. Allen also had a game-high 12 rebounds, including the final one of the game off a missed shot by the Mustangs after which he was fouled with 10 seconds remaining to play in the game. UTPB trailed 76-74 with less than 30 seconds left when Francis scored on a lay-up to tie it, then knocked down his free throw from the foul on the play to put UTPB in front.
Brandon Neel scored 24 points to lead Midwestern State (9-15, 5-9), with Trey Kennedy adding 19 and Logan Hicks 11 in the loss.
UTPB (19-3 overall, 11-2 Lone Star Conference)
Josh Morris 11-17 5-6 27, James McPherson 0-6 0-0 0, Amari Bryant 1-2 0-0 3, Daeshon Francis 11-16 2-4 24, Sammy Allen 4-6 4-4 12, Garrett Baggett 3-7 0-0 9, Andres Villa 1-3 1-2 3, Renard Thomas 0-0 1-2 1, Zeldric King 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 31-59 13-20 79.
MIDWESTERN STATE (9-15, 5-9)
Wanaah Bail 1-3 1-2 3, Ola Ayodele 3-7 2-4 8, Brandon Neel 8-15 8-9 24, Devante Pullum 2-16 2-2 7, Trey Kennedy 7-13 1-1 19, Josh Huntley 2-5 0-0 4, Charles Callier 0-0 0-0 0, Logan Hicks 4-11 0-0 11. Totals 22-70 14-18 76.
Halftime — Midwestern State 35, UTPB 33. 3-Point goals — UTPB 4-12 (McPherson 0-3, Bryant 1-1, Baggett 3-7, King 0-1), Midwestern State 8-26 (Ayodele 0-1, Neel 0-3, PUllum 1-7, Kennedy 4-6, Hicks 3-9). Total fouls — UTPB 20, Midwestern State 22. Fouled out — Midwestern State: Bail, Huntley. Technical fouls — None. Rebounds — UTPB: 47 (Allen 12), Midwestern State 28 (Ayodele 9). Assists — UTPB 21 (Allen 7), Midwestern State 13 (Pullum 5)..
