Western New Mexico men’s basketball coach Zane Gibson knows how difficult it is to win at UTPB.
He helped make it that way.
When Gibson was an assistant coach with the Falcons from 2018-2002, the Falcon Dome was a place opponents dreaded, knowing they were going to be facing an athletic team willing to play 90 feet every second of the game.
UTPB still plays a tenacious style and Gibson knew his Mustangs where in for a battle in a key Lone Star Conference matchup for both teams.
The game played as billed until visiting Western New Mexico was able to take advantage of a cold spell by the Falcons to pull away in the second half for an 87-76 victory on Thursday.
It was Gibson’s first conference victory at UTPB since taking over the Mustangs’ program and the team has now won double-digit games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in more than a decade.
Keith Littles led Western New Mexico (11-10 overall, 5-8 in conference) with 15 points.
Isaiah Lewis added 14, Jaylin McFadden 12, Joshuwan Johnson 11 and Tony Avalos 10 to the victory.
“It’s always a tough trip here,” Gibson said. “I think their (UTPB) depth hurt them a little in the second half.”
Max Warren led the Falcons (10-13, 4-10) with a game-high 16 points, with DaJuan Jones and Azariah Seay each finishing with 13 and Jalen King chipping in 11 to the loss.
Western New Mexico outrebounded the Falcons, 38-24, including 11 on the offensive glass that led to some easy baskets during the second-half run.
That run began after Warren converted a free throw to tie the game, 67-67, with 7:31 remaining to play.
Olamide Pedersen put the Mustangs back in front with a pair of free throws and that was the start of a 12-0 streak to take control of the game.
That coincided with the Falcons going ice cold in a stretch of nine straight possessions:
>> Offensive foul
>> Missed 3-pointer
>> Missed layup
>> Turnover (traveling)
>> Turnover (errant pass)
>> Missed 3-pointer
>> Blocked shot
>> Offensive foul
>> Missed 3-pointer
When Jones finally snapped the skid with a pair of free throws with 3:22 remaining, the damage was done and UTPB never recovered.
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Western New Mexico 87, UTPB 76
Thursday, Falcon Dome
WESTERN NEW MEXICO
Jaylin McFadded 5-8 0-0 12, Ian Hohenstein 2-3 1-2 5, Amarion Cash 1-1 0-0 3, DJ Heath 3-11 0-0 9, Tony Avalos 3-6 4-5 10, Keith Littles 4-9 7-8 15, Olamide Pederson 3-3 2-2 8, Isaiah Lewis 6-6 0-0 14, Joshuwan Johnson 3-6 3-4 11, Dane Quest 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-53 17-21 87.
UTPB
Nathaniel Powell 4-5 1-3 9, Jalen King 4-7 3-4 11, DaJuan Jones 4-10 2-2 13, Azariah Seay 4-12 4-4 13, Keyon Craddock 1-7, 2-2 5, Alvarez Powell 1-2 0-0 2, Danile Moody 1-3 0-0 3, Max Warren 6-10 4-9 16, D’Mari Wiltz 2-3 0-0 4, Rodney Carson Jr 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-59 16-24 76.
Halftime — Western New Mexico 46, UTPB 40. 3-Point goals — Western New Mexico 10-17 (McFadden 2-3, Cash 1-1, Heath 3-5, Avalos 0-1, Littles 0-1, Lewis 2-2, Johnson 2-4), UTPB 6-21 (Jones 3-8, Seay 1-5, Craddock 1-4, Moody 1-3, Wiltz 0-1). Total fouls — Western New Mexico 18, UTPB 21. Fouled out — Western New Mexico (Pederson), UTPB (A. Powell). Technical fouls — None. Rebounds — Western New Mexico 38 (McFadden 9, Pedersen 9), UTPB 24 (Jones 7). Assists — Western New Mexico 13 (Johnson 4), UTPB 11 (Jones 3).
