Late 3-pointer lifts UTPB past Hounds

ODESSA, Texas — Senior guard Jordan Horn’s 3-pointer from the corner with 20 seconds left put Texas-Permian Basin in front for good, and the Falcons held on for a 73-69 Lone Star Conference men’s victory over Eastern New Mexico University on Thursday night.

Horn finished with 18 points, including 3-of-5 from deep, as four players scored in double figures for the Falcons (11-8, 3-5 LSC). Senior guard Miles Daniels also had 18 points, while senior guard DaJuan Jones finished with 14 and senior forward Lemmie Howard had 10.

Meantime, senior forward Marvin Mapaga scored 17 points off the bench and senior forward Yosnier Cobas added 16, including 12-of-12 free throws, for the Greyhounds (6-10, 2-5).

ENMU, trailing by five to eight points, through most of the second half, rallied with a 10-0 run capped by freshman guard Kentrell Puillian’s layup with 6:17 left for a 63-60 advantage. UTPB scored the next six points, but the Hounds regained a 69-68 advantage when sophomore guard Niko Bossinakis converted a loose ball under the basket with 38 seconds remaining.

After Horn’s go-ahead 3, the teams exchanged quick turnovers. Pullian was fouled with nine seconds left, but missed both shots and the Falcons iced the game on two free throws by Howard with seven seconds remaining.

ENMU women 57, UTPB 54 — Senior guard Iyanna McCurdy posted her fourth double-double of the season and scored four key points in the final minute as the Greyhounds (8-6, 4-4) held on late for their third win in a row.

McCurdy led the Greyhounds with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while junior post Kamirah Decker added 11 points and senior post MeMe Amand had 10 points.

Senior forward Alexius Wykoff scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Falcons (4-14, 0-6), who have lost six games by four points or less, including three in their current six-game losing streak. Freshman guard Kamari Portalis went 4-for-5 from the field, including a couple of 3s, and finished with 10 points.

ENMU was just 3-for-16 from 3-point range, but won the game by converting 12-of-15 free throws an UTPB’s 5-of-9,

The Hounds took an early 8-2 lead with six consecutive points, but couldn’t extend the margin.

Sophomore guard Natalie Stice’s 3 with 34 seconds left off a McCurdy assist made it 21-20, and Stice then scored a layup off a McCurdy steal for a 3-point lead at the half.

McCurdy’s 3-point play and a layup from Amand made it 28-20 early in the third period, but the Falcons came back with a 3-pointer by Wykoff in the final minute to make it 37-36 after three.

Senior guard Anasha Hurst and sophomore guard Julia Chavez hit 3-pointers around a UTPB 3 for a 43-39 advantage. The Hounds led until Wykoff’s layup tied it 47-47 with just over five minutes remaining.

Sophomore guard Rory Carter’s basket put the Falcons in front, but Decker tied it on a jumper with 1:41 left.

After a UTPB turnover, Amand’s basket put the Hounds in front for good with just under a minute left. McCurdy hit two free throws with 32 seconds left, and Stice went 1-of-2 with three seconds to go after the Falcons closed to within two points.