FORT SMITH, ARK. – An Alec Zambie lay-up with seven seconds left on the clock provided UT Tyler with a 61-60 road victory over UAFS on Thursday night.
 
The final basket of Zambie's 14-point night provided the difference in a contest where the largest scoring differential either way was just seven points. The Patriots (3-16, 2-11 LSC) limited their opposition to 70 points or less for a fourth-straight outing and out-rebounded the Lions (4-16, 2-12 LSC) by a 35-to-28 margin.
 
Zambie went 5-for-9 from the field, none more important than his driving lay-up with just seconds on the clock that gave the Patriots their only lead in the final two minutes of play, and reached double-double figures with 10 rebounds. UT Tyler didn't allow UAFS to get a shot attempt off in the waning seconds of the contest as freshman Khalik Gardner collected his fourth steal of the night as time expired.
 
Gardner went for 10 points in the first half of play and joined junior Bryce Roberts (11) and Zambie as the main offensive contributors for UT Tyler. The Patriots shot 46.0 percent (23-for-50) from the field and overcame 17 turnovers as a unit to defeat UAFS for a second time this season.
 
UAFS built the largest lead for either side midway through the second half with a 49-42 advantage at the 9:57 mark. A back-and-forth first half that featured 16 lead changes in the first 20 minutes of play ultimately ended with a 29-27 UAFS halftime edge.
 
UT Tyler scored eight quick points in the first two minutes of the second half to jump ahead 35-33. UAFS would then hold the lead for the next 13 minutes of game action up until a Gardner make with 5:57 tied the game at 54-54.
 
Both teams alternated a pair of makes before a three-pointer from the Lions put them ahead 59-58 with 1:52 remaining. Costly fouls for both teams resulted in a trip to the free throw line for both sides following that three-point make, both trips which ended in a 1-for-2 effort to keep the one-point advantage for UAFS.
 
Zambie found the bottom of the basket with seven seconds remaining to put UT Tyler back ahead for the first time in the final two minutes of the play to bring the contest to it's 61-60 final.
 
  Roberts added eight rebounds to go along with 11 points and three steals.
 
UT Tyler will be in pursuit of their first winning streak of the season on Saturday afternoon at Oklahoma Christian.