GOODWELL, Okla. – Having erased an early 12-point first half deficit, the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team had their own 12-point advantage in the second half before Oklahoma Panhandle State University worked their way back into the game and eventually coming away with the 81-72 victory Saturday.

Makhtar Fall (Morocco/Ecole Al Jabr) opened the scoring for WNMU (2-0) tallying the first of his team-high 16 points. Following the early 1-0 lead, OPSU (2-0) took control opening their large lead of 12 at 21-9 with 12:39 to play in the opening half.

The Mustangs kept chipping away trimming the deficit to just one at 26-25 on a layup by Brandon Williams (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) with six minutes to play before the break. Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon), Carter Aby (San Tan Valley, AZ/Combs) and Steven Loucks (Yuma, AZ/Cibola) collectively had a 5-0 run a few minutes later that had WNMU in front at 31-26.

The momentum continued for WNMU with Williams hitting a fastbreak layup to give WNMU their largest lead of the first half of 10 at 42-32. The Mustangs would end up going into halftime with a 42-36 lead. They dominated on points in the paint (26-14) and in bench points (18-6).

Fall started the second half off right for the Mustangs with a dunk. Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) added to that a steal and fastbreak layup, before another Fall basket, this one a layup had WNMU with their largest lead of the game at 48-36.

The Aggies didn't go away, coming back to tie the game at 54 with 11 minutes to play. The lead would reach seven over the next several minutes before WNMU would get back to within four on a three by Adam Kesler (Silver City, NM/Silver).

A dunk by Loucks had WNMU back to within four at 67-63 with still 5:56 to play. Each time the Mustangs would get back to within four, OPSU would have the answer.

The Aggies were able to pull away down the stretch to claim the nine-point victory.

The Aggies used strong advantages in the second half on points in the paint (22-14) and points off turnovers (16-3).

The Mustangs shot well from the field connecting on 28-61 (45.9) and made 6-18 (33.3) from three-point range. WNMU struggled at the charity stripe making just 10-26 (38.5).

OPSU made 25-66 (37.9) from the field and struggled from downtown making just 4-21 (19). They cashed in at the foul line making 27-35 (77.1). WNMU led in points in the paint (40-36), second-chance (14-6), fastbreak (16-4) and bench points (26-12).

Fall led four Mustangs in double-digits in scoring with his 16 points. He also added seven rebounds and two blocks. Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) and Loucks each collected double-doubles with Range going for 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Loucks scored 11 points and brought down 10 rebounds. Kesler came off the bench to record 12 points, making three, three-pointers.

Antonio Manns, Jr., powered the Aggies with a game-high 28 points as OPSU also had four players in double-figures in scoring.

WNMU will return home this coming Monday when they will host Northern New Mexico College beginning at 7 p.m.