TYLER, Texas -- UT Tyler returned to action Friday night, hosting its first live Lone Star Conference men's basketball contest since 293 days ago, and the Patriots battled through a tough shooting night in a 76-68 defeat to UT Permian Basin.

The teams will meet again in less than 24 hours, as the adjusted Lone Star Conference schedule now features two-game weekly series against the same opponent. The slate wipes clean after Friday night's matchup when the teams meet again at the Herrington Patriot Center Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m.

The Patriots were first on the board in the early going, taking an early lead in the opening minutes of the campaign, but UT Permian Basin hit 6-of-11 first-half three-pointers to take a three-point (33-30) halftime lead. The Falcons led the rest of the way, shooting over 50 percent from the field in the second half while extending its lead to as many as 13 points.

With the loss, UT Tyler opens the season with an 0-1 record, while UT Permian Basin opens the campaign at 1-0.

Quotable (UT Tyler head coach Louis Wilson): "We simply got out-competed tonight. We were not fluid offensively because the ball was over-dribbled, it did not move enough, and it was turned over far too frequently. Defensively, our transition effort and awareness were poor, and we didn't protect our paint well enough. This season, games last 80 minutes (instead of 40) because in less than 24 hours we are back at it. Nothing will change in those 40 minutes unless we do. We have to compete more consistently, be more willing passers of the ball, and force them to play more in the half court on our defensive end. It was our first game all year, and it looked like it."

Turning Point: UT Tyler responded to a 50-39 second-half deficit with a 14-6 run, closing the gap to 56-53 with less than eight minutes to play in the game. Micah Fuller and Da'Zhon Wyche each hit three-pointers to help spark the run, and Soloman Thomas scored the last four points of the run to pull the Patriots within three. However, UT Permian Basin reeled off 10 consecutive points in just over a minute's time, starting with a Quinntez Grimes three-pointer that helped the Falcons restore a double-digit lead with just over six minutes left. UT Permian Basin maintained that double-digit lead until the final possession of the contest.

How It Happened: Da'Zhon Wyche was one of four Patriots who scored in double figures, and he had 10 of his 13 points in the opening half as UT Tyler went into the break trailing by just three points, 33-30.

Emanuel Gant scored consecutive baskets just over five minutes into the second half, pulling UT Tyler back within three, 42-39, with 14:01 to play, but UT Permian Basin converted back-to-back three-point plays during an 8-0 run to take its first double-digit lead of the contest, 50-39, with 12:55 left.

Micah Fuller turned an Emanuel Gant steal into a fast break layup at the other end, and Fuller hit a three-pointer just over a minute later to help spark the Patriots to a 14-6 run that slashed the lead back to three, 56-53, with 7:32 remaining in the game. Quinntez Grimes answered the run with a three-pointer, the only second-half three-point make for the Falcons, and UT Permian Basin pulled away with a 10-0 run that pushed the lead back into double figures until the final minute of the contest.

UT Tyler Standouts: Jalen Davis led all scorers with 17 points off the bench for the Patriots, leading a quartet of double-figure scorers. Da'Zhon Wyche scored 10 of his 13 points in the first half, and Micah Fuller scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half. Soloman Thomas also came off the bench with a 10-point performance in his UT Tyler debut. Wyche was also the Patriots' leading rebounder, grabbing 9 boards, while Emanuel Gant contributed a 7-point, 7-rebound effort.

UT Permian Basin Standouts: Five players scored in double figures for the Falcons, with Quinntez Grimes scoring a team-high 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor, while Malik Brikat added 13, Jordan Horn and Fernandez Jones scored 12 each, and Trevion Lamar finished with 10 points. Lamar and Horn each grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds, as well.

By The Numbers: UT Tyler limited the Falcons to just three offensive rebounds while generating a 42-33 rebounding edge over UT Permian Basin… That led to a 22-6 edge in second-chance points, and the Patriots also recorded a 17-11 advantage in points off turnovers… However, UT Tyler shot just 19 percent (6-for-32) from three-point range and 38 percent (27-for-72) overall, while UT Permian Basin shot 44 percent (27-for-61) from the field including a nearly-identical 44 percent clip (7-for-16) from deep.

What's Next: UT Tyler hosts UT Permian Basin again at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, to wrap up the two-game Lone Star Conference weekend series between the teams.