Box Score ST. GEORGE, Utah – Tarleton State Men's Basketball was unable to protect its early first half lead ultimately dropping to Utah Tech, 58-54, on Saturday night in Burns Arena.
 
The Texans (7-11 overall, 2-1 WAC) led by as many as 13 in the first half but were unable to hold off the Trailblazers (6-11, 2-0) second half push. The Trailblazers end the second week of WAC play as one of the two WAC schools to remain undefeated. Tarleton joins Utah Tech and Utah Valley as one of three schools with a pair of wins.
 
Keitenn Bristow led the scoring attack for the Purple and White recording 15. The freshman scored in double figures for his sixth time as a Texan and notched his fifth game with at least 15.
 
Dantwan Grimes and Izzy Miles were the other two Texans to tally double digit scoring totals with 11 and 10, respectively. Miles has recorded double figures in back-to-back games and seven times this season. Miles also tied Chris Mpaka with a team-high seven boards. Mpaka also tallied a game-best two blocks. Marty Silvera dished off a game-high five assists off the bench.
 
Tarleton State started the first half on a tear. The Purple and White scored the first basket of the game and then the Trailblazers tied it at two. Then, the Texans erupted on a 15-2 run across the next 5:57. During the run, the Texans shot 87.5 percent from the floor (7-for-8) including Benjamin sinking the only three-point attempt. Bristow contributed six points during the span followed by Mizell with four. The Texans forced four UTU turnovers via four steals.
 
With the Texans leading 17-4 at the 10:53 mark, it seemed Tarleton State was going to run away with it. However, the Trailblazers tied the game with 13-0 run of their own over the next 5:29. The Texans committed four turnovers while missing four shots during the run.
 
Bristow broke the Utah Tech run with a triple to put the Texans back ahead, 20-17. The Tarleton lead rose to as many as six after Karim Elgizawy drained a triple with 57 ticks left in the half. The Texans held a six-point advantage until a Texan missed shot with 5.9 seconds left gave UTU the ball back. After a timeout, Hakim Byrd beat the buzzer with a one-footed heave from just across half court to cut the Trailblazers' deficit in half, 25-22 at the break.
 
After its hot shooting start, Tarleton shot just 47.8 percent from the field in the first half. Tarleton State made half of its shots from deep, three-for-six.
 
The Trailblazers cut their deficit to just one with an opening basket to start the second half. Grimes sunk a triple to put the Texans up by four two minutes in. Utah Tech tied the game for just the second time in the game with four consecutive points at 28 with 14:43 remaining.
 
Tarleton struggled on the offensive end in the second half and found themselves trailing for the first time all game after UTU made a bucket to take a 35-34 lead. Hakim Byrd gave the Trailblazers their largest lead of the night with a triple on the next possession. The Texans retook the lead with a 7-0 run. The squad scored on three straight possessions with Grimes and Benjamin sinking a pair of free throws each.
 
Tarleton State gathered a four-point lead, 48-44, before Utah Tech tied up the contest at 50 with 3:34 to go. The two teams swapped buckets before being tied for the final time at 54. With a tie game, Utah Tech drove the lay and laid it in to take a two-point lead with 24 ticks to go. The Texans called a timeout on their final possession with 8.7 seconds to go. On the ensuing possession, the ball was thrown out of bounds in the corner, inevitably handing the victory to the Blazers. Utah Tech iced the game with a pair of free throws to ultimately win their second conference game of the year, 58-54.
 
The Texans ended the night shooting 44.7 percent from the floor (21-for-47). Utah Tech won the turnover battle, 17-15. Tarleton State won the battle of the boards, 27-24. Tarleton shot 100 percent from the line for the first time this season, sinking all seven attempts.

Tarleton State will open next week at home against California Baptist on Thursday before heading on the road to Grand Canyon on Saturday. The Texans will host the Lancers in Wisdom Gym on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The Purple and White will close the week with a 7 p.m. CT tip in Phoenix against the Lopes.