TYLER -- The UT Tyler Patriots led for the most of the game Friday evening, but a late rally by LeTourneau doomed the Patriots to their seventh loss of the season and their first in American Southwest Conference East Division play, falling 67-64.

The Patriots (2-7, 1-6) now drop into a tie with the Yellowjackets for fourth place in the ASC East.

UT Tyler led by six with 8:50 to play, but LeTourneau put together an 11-3 run and took a two-point lead on a Jordan Hughes’ layup with 3:19 remaining.

Statistically, UT Tyler controlled the game, shooting 53-percent from the floor to LeTourneau’s 41-percent, and holding a 37-30 rebounding margin. The Patriots did commit 15 turnovers, but the big difference was at the free-throw line where LeTourneau got 15 points to just three for UT Tyler.

Darren Houliston put together another impressive performance for the Patriots in the loss, scoring a team-high 19 points while grabbing 13 rebounds.

UT Tyler returns to action Dec. 30 with a non-conference matchup with Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches.