ODESSA, Texas -- Micah Fuller exploded for 36 points in a 96-89 overtime defeat on the road at UT Permian Basin Thursday night.

Fuller scored 35 of his 36 points in regulation, and his single-game total was the fourth-highest scoring performance in UT Tyler program history. It was the sixth-highest single-game scoring total in the Lone Star Conference this year, as the junior guard made 12-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-7 three-pointers as well as 7-of-7 free throws. He eclipsed his previous season-high of 21 points in the first half alone, scoring 22 of his 36 points in the opening half.

The Patriots led by as many as 17 points in the second half, but UT Permian Basin steadily chipped away at the lead and tied the game with 3:16 remaining in regulation to set up a wild finish. Pat Dembley hit a pair of game-tying free throws with 12 seconds left to tie the game at 77-77 and the Falcons drilled three consecutive three-pointers to open up the extra five-minute period. The 9-0 run answered a Ty Glover jumper and gave UTPB a 7-point lead, and the Falcons led by at least three points the rest of the way.

With the loss, UT Tyler fell to 6-11 overall and 3-9 in the Lone Star Conference. UT Permian Basin improved to 13-8 overall and 6-6 in the LSC.

Turning Point: UT Permian Basin rallied from a 56-39 deficit, starting with an 11-1 run which slashed the lead to seven, 57-50, with 11:52 remaining. Micah Fuller hit back-to-back threes during a back-and-forth scoring flurry midway through the half, but UTPB used a 15-2 run to erase a 13-point deficit and tie the game at 70-70 with 3:16 left in regulation. It was a one-possession game for the remainder of regulation, and Dembley's free throws with 12 seconds left sent the game to overtime tied at 77-77.

How It Happened: Micah Fuller sparked a 13-2 run in the first half with back-to-back three-pointers which broke a 24-24 tie and lifted UT Tyler to a 37-26 lead in the closing minutes of the first half. Fuller attacked the basket for a layup in the closing seconds of the half to give the Patriots a 41-32 halftime lead behind Fuller's 22-point half.

Malik Anderson's three-pointer to open the second half cut the UT Tyler lead to 41-35, but Fuller and Ty Glover sparked a 15-4 run which extended the lead to 17 points, 56-39, with 14:39 remaining in regulation. Glover scored 8 points in the run, and Fuller scored 5, giving the Patriots their largest lead of the game. However, UT Permian Basin put on a 31-14 scoring run over the next 11 minutes to tie the game at 70-70 with 3:16 left in regulation.

Ty Glover nailed a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down, giving the Patriots a 74-71 lead with 2:12 to play, but Pat Dembley knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:31 remaining as the Falcons pulled within 1, 74-73. Ty Glover made 1-of-2 free throws with 1:05 left, and Donoven Carlisle tied the game at 75-75 on a layup with under a minute to play. Fuller scored on a jumper with 25 seconds left, but Dembley drew a foul at the other end and made both free throws with 12 seconds to play to tie the game at 77-77.

In overtime, UT Permian Basin answered a Ty Glover jumper with three consecutive three-pointers to take an 86-79 lead, but Glover answered with a three-point play and sank all three free throws on a three-shot foul with 2:12 left in overtime to close the gap to three points, 88-85. Elvin Rodriguez made a pair of free throws and a layup to extend the lead to 92-85 with 1:40 remaining, and a Darius Alford three cut the lead to 92-88 with 1:13 left. However, Carlisle finished at the basket for a layup with under a minute left, and Dembley sank two free throws with 32 seconds left before Fuller made a free throw after he was fouled on the inbounds play with 30 seconds left for the final 7-point margin.

UT Tyler Standouts: Micah Fuller scored 36 points and Ty Glover added 29 points, as the pair combined to hit 22-of-40 shots including 7-of-15 three-pointers. Fuller also dished out a team-high 5 assists, and Glover tied with Bryson Power for the team-high in rebounds with 6. Glover scored 27 of his 29 points after halftime. Darius Alford came off the bench to score 13 points, hitting 4-of-5 three-pointers.

UT Permian Basin Standouts: Donoven Carlisle (27 points) and Pat Dembley (24 points) combined for 51 points, as Carlisle made 10-of-15 from the field including 4-of-5 three-pointers while Dembley added game-highs in rebounds (7) and assists (6). The Falcons also got a 19-point effort from Malik Anderson, who made 5-of-7 from long range, and Elvin Rodriguez led the UTPB bench with 13 points.

By The Numbers: UT Tyler's .483 (29-for-60) field goal percentage was its second-highest in Lone Star Conference play… The Patriots also made a season-high 13 three-pointers, shooting .433 (13-for-30) from long range which was its third-highest single-game three-point percentage this season… UT Permian Basin shot .516 (32-for-62) overall and .469 (15-for-32) beyond the three-point line… The Falcons were also 17-for-20 (.850) from the free throw line… UT Tyler posted a 37-29 edge in rebounds, leading to an 18-6 edge in second chance points… Glover's 29-point effort was his second-highest this season, and it was his highest scoring total in LSC play… Fuller's previous season-high was 21 points, when he led the Patriots to a 64-53 road win over Texas A&M International.

What's Next: UT Tyler remains on the road to complete its longest road trip in the Lone Star Conference, visiting Western New Mexico on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 4 p.m.