TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler forced overtime after trailing by 23 points in the first half to provide a spirited effort in an 88-81 overtime loss to Arkansas Tech.
 
The Patriots (1-3) withstood a furious start for Arkansas Tech (2-2) in the first 15 minutes of action that saw the Wonder Boys connect on six three pointers in route to a 37-14 advantage with 6:56 remaining in the first half. UT Tyler closed out the final five minutes of the first half on a 15-3 run to cut the once 23-point deficit to just nine points at 40-31 heading into the halftime break.
 
UT Tyler then out-scored Arkansas Tech by a 43-to-34 margin in the second half of play to force overtime with the score deadlocked at 74-74 at the end of regulation. Junior Bryce Roberts, who buried the tying shot with one second on the clock, grabbed a loose ball on the ensuing in-bound pass and rattled a half-court heave at the buzzer that rimmed out, nearly providing the heroic game-winning basket for the Patriots.
 
Arkansas Tech stood strong defensively in the overtime period, preventing a UT Tyler basket for the final three minutes of action, and made enough free throws down the stretch to escape with the 88-81 victory.
 
Redshirt sophomore Nikolas Gustavson led the Patriots with 15 points on the night, nine of which came in the second half. Roberts finished with 14 points, and graduate student Jonathan Jackson with 10, all of which came in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
The Patriot comeback was spurred largely by the three-point shot as UT Tyler went 3-for-4 from long range in the final five minutes of play in the first half, and then 7-for-17 as a unit in the second half.
 
UT Tyler took their first lead of the game at the 54-53 mark of the second half with 12:08 remaining in the game. Junior Alec Zambie scored seven straight points during that stretch that resulted in a 57-53 advantage.
 
Zambie filled up the stat sheet with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
 
Both teams flipped two-possession leads over the next eight minutes of play before a Gustavson three-point make with 4:37 left made it 68-64 in favor of UT Tyler. Seven unanswered points form the Wonder Boys flipped the script for a 71-68 Arkansas Tech advantage.
 
Roberts made what would be the first of two key baskets at the 1:06 mark to tie the game at 72-72, and then answered a Wonder Boy make with 19 seconds with the basketball with one second left on the clock.
 
Arkansas Tech took the lead for good with 2:43 remaining in the overtime period.
 
UT Tyler finished the night 27-for-63 (42.9 percent) from the floor as a team.
 
The Patriots will begin Lone Star Conference play on Nov. 30^th on the road at Cameron.