The University of Texas at Tyler men’s basketball team dropped a one-point American Southwest Conference decision to Mississippi College on Saturday afternoon at the Herrington Patriot Center in a game that went down to the wire.

The win allowed the Choctaws (11-3, 7-3) to remain undefeated against UT Tyler (8-7, 8-2). The Patriots are now 0-11 all-time against Mississippi.

The game was high-energy and fast paced from the opening tip. Momentum switched from team to team at a rapid-fire pace, but never stayed with any one team long enough to build a sizeable lead. In total, there were 10 ties, six lead changes and the largest lead either team enjoyed was just eight points.

With less than two minutes left in the contest, junior Hakeem Kareem (Houston, Texas) tied the game by making a layup and completing an old-fashioned three-point play with the subsequent foul shot.

After a turnover by each team, Choctaw senior Clarence Jeffery (Madison, Miss.) drove through the lane and made the go-ahead basket to give his team a two point lead with just 57 seconds remaining.

However Mississippi did not hold that lead very long as junior Dexter McMarion (Austin, Texas) tied the game again with just 36 seconds left.

On the next play, Kareem fouled Mississippi senior Bryan Johnson (Jackson, Miss.), sending him to the free throw line for a one and one opportunity. Johnson made the first but missed the second, giving UT Tyler one last shot at the win.

After a timeout, the Patriots went for the win but were unable to get anything to fall, giving the Choctaws the narrow victory.

Senior Anthony Reese (Longview, Texas) recorded his second consecutive double-double with game-highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Hakeem Kareem followed closely behind Reese with 13 points of his own.

Senior Jonathan Stokes (Crenshaw, Miss.) had 14 to points to lead Mississippi.

UT Tyler will play again on Thursday, when it hosts ASC East leaders UT Dallas at 7:30 p.m., at the Herrington Patriot Center.