CANYON, TEXAS – A Ryan Zambie attempt at the buzzer nearly completed a UT Tyler comeback on Friday afternoon in a 59-57 loss to Western Colorado in Canyon, Texas.
 
The Patriots out-scored the Mountaineers by a 34-24 margin in the second half of action and cut a 12-point deficit midway through the final 20 minutes of play to just a single possession in the final seconds. UT Tyler went just 8-for-35 (22.9 percent) from the field in the first half, but put their halftime adjustments to good use to connect on 14-of-32 (43.7 percent) attempts in the second half.
 
Senior Jonathan Jackson led the Patriots with 16 points, while Alec Zambie (11) and forward Juan Pablo Camargo (10) both reached double-digit scoring figures. Alec's brother Ryan Zambie and Camargo combined to score 19 of the final 21 points for the Patriots, including all 10 of Camargo's points in the ball game.
 
That stretch of play from Ryan Zambie and Camargo helped UT Tyler march back from a 51-39 deficit with 9:33 on the clock. Camargo brought the game back to a one-possession contest with a lay-up that made it 55-53 with 1:58 on the clock, but a pair of free throw makes by Western Colorado extended the advantage back to four points at 57-53 with 1:02 remaining.
 
A quick make from Alec Zambie brought it back to a one-possession game at 57-55 with just 50 seconds left on the clock. UT Tyler made a key defensive stop on the following possession with a block by Camargo, but botched the possession of the ensuing rebound to keep the ball in the hands of the Mountaineers.
 
Zambie quickly made it a one-point game after Western Colorado made just 1-for-2 at the line following the UT Tyler foul after the costly turnover. Zambie would ultimately get a shot to tie the contest at the buzzer after a second-straight 1-for-2 trip to the line for the Mountaineers, but narrowly missed the driving lay-up at the buzzer.
 
UT Tyler defended well throughout the contest, limiting Western Colorado to just a 16-for-48 (33.3 percent) clip from the field, but ultimately couldn't overcome their own shooting troubles in the first half. The Patriots trailed 35-23 at the halftime break before storming back in the final 10 minutes of play.
 
The Patriots out-rebounded the Mountaineers by a 45-to-37 margin for the contest and hauled in 16 offensive rebounds as a unit. Alec Zambie led that effort with nine boards, nearly reaching double-double figures in his UT Tyler debut.
 
UT Tyler falls to 0-1 on the year and Western Colorado to 1-0.
 
The Patriots will make a quick turnaround with an exhibition contest on the road at UT Arlington tomorrow afternoon. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start.