TAHLEQUAH, OKLA. – The University of Texas at Tyler stayed steady defensively and executed better offensively to maintain a lead throughout the majority of the second half and move to 3-0 on the year with a 71-67 victory over Northeastern State.
 
UT Tyler knocked down 11 out of their first 15 shots from the field to begin a second half in which the Patriots would lead nearly throughout to collect another road win ahead of the start of Lone Star Conference play. That fast start opened up a 12-point lead which would prove vital as Northeastern State cut the deficit to a one-possession difference late, but couldn't overcome the fast offensive start to the half by the Patriots.
 
Junior Jordan Hairston went for 15 points to lead UT Tyler while Mohamed Diallo (14) and Terrell Wilson (12) both reached double-digit scoring figures to provide the bulk of the Patriot offense for the afternoon. UT Tyler shot 60 percent (15-of-25) from the field in the second half, and 45.6 percent (26-of-57) for the game.
 
Wilson gave the Patriots a 32-30 lead heading into the halftime break after a back-and-forth opening half of action. UT Tyler made just 11-of-32 (34.4 percent) attempts from the field in the first half, including just 3-for-17 (17.6 percent) from three-point range.
 
That efficiency on the offensive side of the floor would change for UT Tyler following Northeastern State's final lead of the contest at the 35-34 mark with 17:14 remaining on the clock. The Patriots connected on their next four consecutive attempts from the field to flip the lead to 43-39 in their favor, and then eventually 57-45 with 10:00 left in the half.
 
That 12-point lead came as a result of the previously mentioned 11-for-15 run from the field for UT Tyler coming out of the halftime break, and complimented what was a traditional high-pressure defense from the Patriots. Northeastern State managed to cool off the UT Tyler offense heading into the final minutes of the ballgame, and cut the lead to just two at 59-57 with 3:48 remaining.
 
UT Tyler never relinquished the lead, however, and padded a seven-point advantage with 25 seconds left to effectively put the game out of reach with a three-point make from Hairston. That Hairston three pointer late in the possession for UT Tyler complimented a key block from Diallo on the previous Northeastern State possession to extend the Patriot lead to 69-62.
 
Northeastern State cut the difference to just two with six seconds left, but two free throws from Quinn Smith prevented an attempt for the game-tying three-point attempt and moved UT Tyler to 3-0 on the year.
 
Senior Milan Szabo grabbed nine rebounds and added eight points, while Smith totaled eight points and five rebounds to compliment the strong front court play from UT Tyler on the day.
 
The Patriots complete their first three contests of 2022-23 unscathed, and will now shift their attention to Lone Star Conference play on Nov. 30^th against Cameron.