TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler men's basketball team hung around until the late stages of the contest in a 91-79 loss against West Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Patriots trailed by just five with three minutes remaining in the second half in a meeting with a West Texas A&M squad that entered the night tied atop the Lone Star Conference standings, but couldn't manage to slow down an efficient Buffs offense. Senior Rashun Williams finished his outing with 27 points and sophomore Kyle Frelow finished with a career high 14 points to pace a UT Tyler offense that shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) for the game.
 
UT Tyler cut a once 14-point West Texas A&M lead in the early stages of the second half to just five at the 78-73 mark with 3:00 remaining after a 9-2 run. West Texas A&M regained the control they established for much of the contest thanks to a two straight made baskets and an 8-10 performance from the free-throw line in the last three minutes of play to secure the 91-79 win.
 
West Texas A&M befitted from 30 made free throws in the contest on 34 attempts, and combined those attempts from the charity stripe with a 9-of-20 effort from beyond the three-point arc to lead for effectively the full 40 minutes of game time.
 
Williams went 8-for-18 from the field and knocked down 6-of-8 attempts from the free throw line to finish with his 27 for the afternoon to allow UT Tyler to hang around until the final minutes of action. Frelow was efficient from the floor throughout, connecting on 7-of-10 from the field.
 
Seniors Milan Szabo and Terrell Wilson both finished with 10 points while Szabo nearly registered his second consecutive double-double with nine rebounds.
 
UT Tyler falls to 8-8 on the year and 4-8 in Lone Star Conference play, but will remain at home for their next three contests inside the Herrington Patriot Center beginning next weekend against UAFS and Oklahoma Christian.
 
The Patriots and UAFS are set for a 7:30 p.m. tip on Thursday night.