AUSTIN, Texas - The UT Tyler Men's Basketball team took on Concordia University on Saturday in Austin. The Patriots would win the game 97-87, picking up their fourth win of the season. The 10-point win moves UT Tyler to 4-4 overall. 

The Patriots would use their highest scoring game of the season to pick up their first road win of the 2018-19 season on Saturday afternoon. The Patriots scored 96 points in a home win over Dallas Christian earlier this season, topping that mark with a 97-point game and ten-point win on Saturday. 

The Patriots opened the first half 5-0 run that spanned nearly five minutes of play. The first half would remain somewhat deadlocked through the final 15 minutes of play with the Patriots taking their largest lead of seven with 8:33 remaining. The lead changed six times in the first twenty minutes of play with the game knotted up on three different occasions. After 20 minutes of play, UT Tyler held a 46-45 advantage. 

Darius Alford led the way for the Patriots with 11 points off the bench in the first half, pulling in a rebound. Brad Mason would put up 10 points while pulling in four boards. Chris Craig scored eight points and led the Patriots with five rebounds in the half. The Patriots would shoot 51.7% from the field, draining five three's and scoring 11 points on 14 chances at the free throw line. 

UT Tyler would control the game in the second half, never surrendering their first half lead. The Patriots would push their lead to four on an Alford three in the first :15 of play before Concordia cut the lead to two just :13 second later. Two would be as close as the Tornadoes would come as the Patriots their largest lead of the game with 15:33 remaining in regulation. A jumper from Jared Jenkins put the Patriots ahead 64-59. UT Tyler would return their lead to 15 twice more in the half before Concordia cut the lead to seven at its smallest margin with 2:33 remaining. UT Tyler pulled ahead 97-85 with :13 seconds remaining before the Tornadoes scored their final basket in the final two seconds of action, giving UT Tyler the 97-87 victory. 

Alford put up 14 more points in the final 20 minutes of play, snagging three steals and blocking a shot. Craig would score 12 points while pulling in three boards. Tyrick Bennett scored 10 points and dished out five assists in the second half. The Patriots would shoot 20-32 (62.5%) from the field and 3-5 (60%) from behind the arc. UT Tyler scored eight points from the free-throw line. 

BY THE NUMBERS:
UT Tyler finished the afternoon shooting 57.4% from the field while sinking eight baskets from behind the arc and 19 from the stripe. The Patriots would score 50 of their 97 points in the paint with 28 coming off of a turnover. UT Tyler used the offensive boards to score 22 second chance points while scoring 18 points on the fast break. The UT Tyler bench scored 52 points in the win. 

UT TYLER LEADERS:
Alford led the way for UT Tyler on Saturday, scoring a team-high 25 points, recording four steals, a block, and a rebound. Craig finished the day with 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, a block, and an assist. Bennett tallied a team-high seven assists while scoring 16 points, pulling in five boards. Mason would score 12 points, hauling in six rebounds. Jared Jenkins finished the night with 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Corbin Stephens was the sixth Patriot to post double-digit scoring numbers, finishing with 10 points and four boards. 

UP NEXT:
UT Tyler wil play Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas on Monday before returning the Tyler for a matchup with Southwestern at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 18. Tuesday's home game will offer free admission to all fans.