With the win, UT Tyler improved to 7-15 overall, 4-13 in the Lone Star Conference, and 2-5 within the division. Cameron fell to 6-18 overall, 5-12 in the LSC, and 3-4 within the division.

Turning Point: Micah Fuller knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:52 left to give UT Tyler a six-point lead, 71-65, but Cameron slashed the lead in half on its next possession when Kendall Scott hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 71-68 heading into the final minute. With 50 seconds remaining, Fuller knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key a full step behind the three-point line, extending the lead back to six points with less than a minute to play. The only time Cameron got that close again was with less than 10 seconds to play, but UT Tyler made 4-of-6 free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the win.

How It Happened: Darius Alford drilled consecutive three-pointers early in the first half, sparking UT Tyler on a 12-0 run which gave the Patriots an 18-7 lead just over seven minutes into the contest. After Cameron cut the lead to two with a 12-3 run of its own, the Patriots answered with seven straight capped by a Micah Fuller three which extended the lead to 28-19 with 8:05 left in the half. The Aggies tied the game twice before UT Tyler pulled away late in the half with a 13-5 run over the final four minutes of the half to take a 44-36 halftime lead.

Cameron patiently chipped into the UT Tyler lead throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half, and a Jalen Nicholas dunk with 10:16 left in the game gave the Aggies their first lead since the first four minutes of the contest. A minute later, Bradley Mason drilled a three-pointer to regain the lead, 59-57, and the Patriots led the rest of the way.

When the Aggies got within two points with just over seven minutes remaining, Alford answered with a three-pointer for a 63-58 lead, and when Cameron's Kendall Scott made a pair of free throws to cut the margin to one with five minutes left, Omar Mohamed and Xavier Fogle each hit a pair of free throws to answer on consecutive possessions to push the lead back to 67-62 with 4:26 remaining. With just under two minutes left, Micah Fuller knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Patriots a six-point cushion, 71-65, heading down the stretch.

A minute later, Fuller answered a Kendall Scott three to keep the lead at six, and a pair of Bradley Mason free throws with 22 seconds left extended the lead to seven, 77-70. The Aggies used 16 of the final 22 ticks to make 4-of-4 free throws around a Patriots turnover, but UT Tyler got the ball inbounds to Mason in the closing seconds, and he made 1-of-2 at the line for the final 78-74 margin.

UT Tyler Standouts: Darius Alford scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the first half, sparking the Patriots to the early lead, and Micah Fuller added 20 points. Bradley Mason also reached double figures, scoring 10 points on a pair of three-pointers and four free throws, and Ty Glover added 9 points. Ansu Sesay produced team-highs of 10 rebounds and 3 steals.

Cameron Standouts: Kendall Scott led four Aggies in double figures with 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field with a three-pointer plus 7-of-9 free throws, and he also pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds for the double-double. Brock Schreiner scored 13 points with a game-high 5 assists, while Darius Green scored 12 points and Jalen Nicholas added 10 points.

By The Numbers: UT Tyler committed only 9 turnovers, which was its second-lowest of the season… The Patriots also forced 16 Cameron turnovers, creating a 23-9 advantage in points off turnovers… UT Tyler also produced a 23-16 edge in bench scoring… Cameron claimed a 34-23 rebounding margin, leading to a 14-5 advantage in second chance points… Both teams shot at or near 50 percent from three-point range, as Cameron hit 8-of-16 (50 percent) and UT Tyler hit 10-of-21 (48 percent) from long range… The teams also finished just one attempt apart in total field goal attempts as well as free throws… UT Tyler shot 52 percent (25-for-48) overall and 69 percent (18-for-26) from the free throw line, while Cameron shot 49 percent (23-for-47) overall and 74 percent (20-for-27) from the line… Micah Fuller registered his third 20-point game of the season, and Darius Alford had his second 20-point performance, finishing just two points off his season-high (24)… Alford is averaging 16.4 points per game over the last five games.

What's Next: UT Tyler is back on the road Saturday for another Lone Star Conference divisional matchup at Midwestern State on Saturday, Feb. 15.