ODESSA, Texas - It may be early in the season to have a two-week break, but it couldn't come at a better time for Midwestern State.

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin took advantage of an injured Mustangs' squad to claim its first victory over a Lone Star Conference opponent 83-72 Monday night under the Falcon Dome.

"We're a wounded team right now," MSU coach Jeff Ray said. "We are trying hard, but it's tough to get any time or chemistry with the situation we have right now."

The Mustangs were without leading scorer Trajinski Grigsby after the senior forward went down with a leg injury last week against Central Oklahoma.

The bad luck kept coming against Texas-Permian Basin as junior forward Michael Godwin, who was making his first appearance of the season, re-injured his ankle late in the second half after scoring eight points in 19 minutes of play.

"We're looking forward to the two-week break," Ray said. "I didn't think it would be a positive when we scheduled it this way, but it certainly looks that way now."

The Mustangs, who fell to 3-3, get two weeks to mend before traveling to Tahlequah, Okla. to face Northeastern State.

Midwestern State hung close to the Falcons throughout the first half before the Mustangs took their only lead of the second half when Nolan Richardson canned a 3-pointer for a 38-37 lead with 16:45 remaining.

But UTPB used a 12-2 run midway through the second half to turn a five-point advantage into a 63-48 bulge when Justin Bailey got out on the break for a layup with 8:53 remaining.

The Mustangs would strike back with 3-pointers on three-straight possessions after Richardson canned hit third trey of the game to pull MSU within 69-62 with 4:25 to go.

But that's as close as it would get as the Falcons pulled away for its largest lead of the night after Luther Thomas hit his lone 3-pointer of the night after stealing an inbounds pass with 58 seconds to go to give UTPB an 83-66 lead.

"We just did not play a good basketball game," Ray said. "We struggled in every facet of the game. We didn't shoot well and we didn't pass well. We're just not a very good basketball team right now."

Texas-Permian Basin enjoyed a 38-14 advantage in free-throw attempts and buried 27 of them, while the Mustangs canned 12 of their own.

Senior forward Rob Harris led a pack of five Falcons in double figures with 19 points and six rebounds, while junior guard Charles Harper notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

MSU was paced by junior guard Craig Green, who knocked down four 3-pointers to finish with 19 points, while Richardson hi three treys for 13 points.

Senior guard Quincy Sarpy added 11 points and nine rebounds.

Texas-Permian Basin improved to 3-4 on the season.