TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler men's basketball put together a big second half effort as they launched a comeback effort, but Cameron was able to hold off the charge and earn a 78-66 win.
Jadin Penigar scored a game-high 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting while knocking down five three pointers to lead the Patriots.
Hudson Anderson joined him in double figures as he added 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting while adding six rebounds.
The two teams battled tightly over the first five minutes and change of action as Cameron held a slim 13-10 lead. The Patriots would catch fire, going on a 7-0 run over three minutes of action as they took a 17-13 lead. However, a massive run from the Aggies over the last 11:37 to close out the half saw them take a 43-20 advantage into the break.
The Patriots trailed by 23 as they began the second half, but Penigar kicked off the comeback effort as he buried a triple to cut the lead to 20 on the opening possession of the half. That bucket kicked off a 15-6 run over the first 6:21 of the second half as Anderson scored eight points in the run while the Patriots defense held the Aggies to just 2-for-8 to make it a 14 point game.
Moments later, Penigar buried another pair of three pointers to keep the Patriots right in the hunt before adding a layup at the 10:16 mark to cut the lead down to 12 points as the Patriots continued to battle their way back into the contest.
The Patriots would cut the lead down to 11 points with 8:51 to play in the contest, but that would be the closest they would get until 57 seconds remaining when the lead became just 10. In the final minute the Aggies were able to convert from the stripe and hold off the Patriots efforts.
Lathan Wigington put together a second half that saw him total a career-high second half while also adding in a pair of steals.
Juan Pablo Camargo added in nine points, four rebounds, one steal, and one block in the contest.
UT Tyler will look to right the ship on Saturday afternoon as they look for a season sweep of Oklahoma Christian at 3 p.m.
