ALPINE, Texas – Philip Meikle scored a team-high 27 points, including 21 of them coming in the second half, but the Concordia Texas men's basketball team came up short against Sul Ross State on Thursday, falling 96-85 in the Gallego Center.

Meike shot 9-of-17, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc, recording 27 points along with a team-high eight rebounds. The Tornados also made it count at the free-throw line, shooting 26-of-31 at the line.

In the first half, the Lobos jumped out to an early 18-11 lead but the Tornados were quick to respond, going on a 19-2 run to take the lead. Alexander Estrada capped off the big run with a steal and fast break layup to put CTX up 30-20, their largest lead of the game.

Sul Ross State climbed back into the game late in the half, but the Tornados held a slight edge, 39-37, as the teams went to the locker room.

In the second half, Meikle scored five of CTX's first seven points, building a seven-point advantage early in the period.

The Cypress, Texas native, caught fire for the Tornados in the second half, shooting 75 percent from the floor, producing 19 points in the half alone.

The Lobos, though, did not go quietly, pulling off an 18-6 run to take a 57-52 lead with 14:15 to go.

Sul Ross State shot 63 percent from the floor in the second period and took a double-digit lead late in the half.

Cameron Jones' jumper cut the deficit to one, but CTX was never able to retake the lead, falling 96-85.

Luis Gonzalez also finished in double figures for the Tornados, producing 10 points and four rebounds. Estrada had nine points off the bench, while Spencer Bone recorded eight point in eight minutes of action.

Concordia Texas will close out the regular season on Saturday, traveling to Brownwood, Texas for a showdown against Howard Payne at 3 p.m.