WICHITA – The Newman men's basketball team posted 101 points to defeat Texas-Permian Basin, 101-91, on Saturday (Dec. 20) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets moved to 5-3 and 1-1 in the Heartland Conference. The Falcons dropped to 6-4 and 1-1 in the conference.
 
A strong first half from the Jets propelled them to the win. NU held a 21-point advantage after the first 20 minutes at 46-25.
 
The two teams totaled 121 points in the second half. Visiting UTPB scored 66 points, however, the Jets tallied 55 points to keep a double digit lead.
 
With the Jets holding a slight 15-12 edge at the 11:05 mark of the first half, NU went on an 18-0 run in 4 minutes to pull out to a 21 point advantage at 33-12 with 7:09 remaining in the half. The spurt started with a 3-pointer from James Pegues at the 10:46 mark, and then Jeremy Espinoza hit a layup for a 20-12 score. Reggie Baker knocked down a 3 with 8:57 remaining in the half, and then NU got consecutive tip-ins from Espinoza and Luka Vermezovic. Vermezovic was fouled on his basket, and he put in the free throw for a 27-12 advantage with 7:58 left in the half. Baker scored the final five points on the run. He hit two free throws and then capped the spurt with a 3-pointer at the 7:09 mark for a 33-12 score.
 
The Jets held a 21-point lead, 46-25, at halftime.
 
NU pushed the margin to 25 points to start the second half at 50-25 with four quick Pegues points in the first 1:01.
 
With the Jets up by 20 at 61-41 with 13:28 left, the Falcons scored nine straight points to cut the deficit to 11 at 61-50 with 11:31 remaining. UTPB got three layups and a triple during the 9-0 spurt.
 
Two Pegues layups and another Baker 3-pointer put NU up by 18, 68-50 at the 10:28 mark.
 
UTPB slowly cut into the NU lead, closing the gap to eight points at 76-68 with 4:31 left. The closest the Falcons could get was seven points at 81-74 with 3:03 remaining after two free throws.
 
The Jets broke UTPB's full court press, getting four straight layups to go up by 10, 90-80, with 1:29 remaining. In the final 1:29, NU scored all 11 of its points on free throws. Julian Easton hit two free throws with 1:07 remaining. Baker went 5-of-6 from the line, and Cortrael Colbert was 4-for-4 in the final minute.
 
Baker scored a game-high 29 points, one point off his career high of 30, in 35 minutes. He went 12-of-13 from the free throw line and 3-of-8 from 3. The junior guard added eight rebounds and four assists. Pegues totaled 18 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes on 6-of-9 shooting. Finishing with a double-double was Espinoza with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Colbert also hit double figures with 15 points and a game-high six assists.
 
NU shot 43.9 percent (29-66) from the field, including 51.9 percent (14-27) in the second half. The Jets shot 41 free throws, hitting 35 for 85.4 percent.
 
The Falcons were led by Chris Griffin and Codye Hatcher. Griffin finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, and Hatcher had 21 points and 10 rebounds. Five Falcons were in double figures.
 
The Jets return to action on New Year's Day at Texas A&M International. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Laredo, Texas.