Branche’s Jumper Lifts Patriots Past Sul Ross
January 3, 2008

ALPINE, Texas---Senior Patrick Branche (Houston, Texas) nailed a jumper with just :05 seconds left in the game to lift the University of Texas at Tyler men’s basketball team past Sul Ross, 49-48, on Thursday night in Alpine.

The Patriots came out strong as they opened the game on a 9-0 run and would carry that momentum throughout most of the first half. With 4:04 remaining in the first half, the Patriots held a commanding 24-12 lead. However the Lobos would battle back and end the half on an 8-0 run of their own, cutting UT Tyler’s lead to just four points at the break.

In the second half, it would be Sul Ross who would assume control of the game and would lead for the majority of the period. But in the end, the Patriots persevered ending the game on an 11-3 run that concluded with Branche’s game-winning basket.

Branche led both teams with 21 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Junior Anthony Reese (Longview, Texas) followed Branche with 10 points. Senior Jeff Cotton (Allen, Texas) also had a career night as he pulled down a personal best 11 rebounds. Sophomore Filiberto Torres (Clint, Texas) led the Lobos with 10 points.

With the win UT Tyler improves to 4-6 overall and 3-2 in American Southwest Conference action, while Sul Ross fall to 3-7 on the year and 2-4 in league play.

The Patriots will travel to Brownwood, Texas on Saturday to take on Howard Payne. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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