TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler men's basketball team fell by a 68-58 final tally to UAFS on Thursday night inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
 
UAFS made a fast start and a quality ending to the game count to escape Tyler with the victory in a battle between two teams that entered the night on the outside looking in for one of the eight available spots in the Lone Star Conference Men's Basketball Championships. Senior Rashun Williams led UT Tyler with 16 points on the night while Milan Szabo turned in another quality outing with 10 points and six rebounds.
 
UT Tyler fell behind early after the quick start to the game from UAFS, trailing 24-10 with 7:29 remaining in the first half before a 14-4 run over the next five minutes of game action cut the deficit to just four. The Patriots trailed just 30-27 at the halftime break and then kept the deficit within a manageable margin for the first eight minutes of the second half.
 
UT Tyler made it a two-point game on three different occasions within the first few minutes of the second half, but never managed to cash in the tying bucket. UAFS returned to their quality play that they began the game with and never let the advantage slip back into single digits throughout the final 10 minutes of play.
 
The Patriots finished the night 16-of-44 (36.4 percent) from the field and 6-of-18 (33.3 percent) from beyond the three-point line.
 
Junior Jordan Hairston filled the stat sheet with seven points, three assists and a pair of steals, while redshirt freshman DJ Jones added six points on a pair of three-point makes.
 
UAFS shot 58.1 percent (25-of-43) for the night and managed 26 points in the paint.
 
UT Tyler slips to 8-9 on the year and 4-9 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
The Patriots will remain at home on Saturday afternoon for a 3 p.m. tip against Oklahoma Christian