COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - The UT Tyler Men's Basketball team played their final game in the Rocky Mountain Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday evening, taking on Johnson and Wales University. The Patriots fell 87-94, moving to 0-2 overall. 

FIRST HALF:
The Patriots opened the game with a high-paced scoring attack that saw UT Tyler put up 41 points in the first 20 minutes. Darius Alford came off the bench to put up a team-high 13 points. 

UT Tyler shot 48.4% from the field and 50% from behind the arc en-route to opening a 41-36 first half lead. 

The Patriots controlled the boards, out-rebounding the Wildcats 21-15 behind the strength of six offensive boards. 

SECOND HALF:
The Wildcats and Patriots would combine to put up 104 points in the final 20 minutes of play on Saturday. UT Tyler would continue to shoot near 50% from the field. putting up 46 points. Alford continued to flex his hot hand, putting up 16 points in the second half of play. Chris Craig joined Alford by scoring 10 points in the final half of the game. 

Despite pulling ahead early in Saturday's game, UT Tyler would not be able to fend off a second-half effort from the Wildcats that saw them put up 58 points. The Patriots kept the second half close but could not regain their lead before the final buzzer sounded with the Patriots down 87-94. 


BY THE NUMBERS:
Alford led the team with 29 total points, shooting 11-18 on the night. Alford would sink six of seven attempts at the line. 

Tyrick Bennett posted nine boards and 13 points, dishing out seven assists. 

Brad Mason served as the three-man in Saturday's game, sinking four of his six attempts behind the arc. 

The Patriots shot 47.1% from the field and from behind the arc while shooting 62.5% from the line. 

UP NEXT:
The Patriots return home on Tuesday, November 12 when they host the season opener against Dallas Christian.