Box Score WICHITA – The Newman men's basketball team used a strong second half to erase a seven-point halftime deficit and win, 82-75, over Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday (Jan. 25) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets improved to 7-11 and 4-6 in the Heartland Conference. The Falcons dropped to 12-5 and 6-3 in the Heartland Conference.
 
Down three points, 67-64, with 6:13 remaining, NU went on a 12-0 run to open up a 76-67 advantage with 2:38 to play. After an Elhad Emerllahu layup, Jack Pyle put the Jets in front with a three-point play, making a layup and one free throw for a 69-67 score at the 5:09 mark.
 
Emerllahu scored the next five NU points with two layups and a free throw for a 74-67 lead at the 2:52 mark. Two Pyle free throws upped the advantage to nine, 76-67, with 2:38 remaining.
 
The lead once again was pushed to nine, 78-69, with 47 seconds left after two Ryan McCarthy free throws.
 
UTPB cut the deficit to three points, 78-75, with 22 seconds remaining, but Marquis Cuyler put the game away with three made free throws and a late layup for the 82-75 final score.
 
The Falcons controlled the first half, pulling out to a 28-17 lead with 7:19 left in the half. UTPB's largest lead was 13, 45-32, with 2:04 left in the first half. The margin was seven points, 45-38, at halftime as NU ended the half on a 6-0 run.
 
Cuyler scored a game-high 23 points, including 10-of-12 from the free throw line. He added three steals, two blocks and five rebounds. Emerllahu totaled 15 points, and Pyle tallied 11 points. Emerllahu pulled down a game-high eight rebounds and had a team-high four assists.
 
The Jets outscored the Falcons 44-30 in the second half. The NU defense held UTPB to 33.3 percent (7-21) shooting in the second half after the Falcons shot 54.5 percent (18-33) in the first half. The Jets shot 34.8 percent (24-69) from the field in the game, but had only nine turnovers, while forcing UTPB to commit 16 turnovers.
 
NU travels to Texas for its next two games. The Jets take on St. Mary's on Thursday (Jan. 30) at 7:30 p.m. in San Antonio, Texas.