MIDLAND, Texas - Tori Hicks scored a pair of touchdowns, but the Lincoln football team fell to Texas-Permian Basin, 54-20, in its second exhibition game of the spring on Saturday (March 6).

Early in the third quarter, Desmond Hunter completed a 46-yard pass to CJ Closser to set up Hicks' first TD of the afternoon. Hicks carried the ball down to the three-yard line on the ensuing play, then rushed again for the final three yards. Javier Moreno made the extra point, cutting the Falcon lead down to 34-13.

Later in the quarter, a muffed punt recovered by Elliot Albert at the TPB 22-yard line led to Hicks' other score, a nine-yard reception from Hunter for the TD. Hicks had previously gained 18 yards on the ground in two plays prior to Hunter's scoring throw. Hunter ended up completing 14 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns while Hicks had 29 yards rushing and and 29 yards receiving.

The Falcons jumped out to a 27-0 lead in the first quarter, but Lincoln shut out Texas-Permian Basin in the second, and also scored its first points of the game in that frame. After forcing the Falcons to turn the ball over on downs near the end of the half, Hunter found Hicks for 22 yards to get the ball down to the 34. Closser caught a 10-yard pass, and Hosea Franklin had a 16-yard run later in the quarter to get within five yards of the end zone. Hunter laster completed a three-yard pass to Chrisshun Robinson for the score.

Franklin led LU with 51 yards on the ground, and Jalen Head gained 25 yards on just four carries. Closser had 73 receiving yards and Richardson caught four passes for 44 yards. Moreno, meanwhile, averaged 48.3 yards on kickoffs while Clayton Winkler averaged 37.2 yards on eight punts.

Winkler and Piere' Jones each broke up passes, and EJ Gisa and Cody Bagby finished with seven tackles apiece. Gisa also was credited with a hurry, and Bagby had 1.5 tackles for loss. Amaud Bates registered a sack, TeAndre Skinner made a tackle for loss, and Daniel Wheeler was credited with a hurry. Vontavious Thacker and Jaylon Mosley each made four tackles.

Lincoln will next play on Saturday, April 10 in Ada, Okla. against East Central.