Dallas Baptist University Athletics

The Patriot Basketball Team welcomed Arkansas Tech to the sold out Burg Center on Saturday night to play their first game of the 2007-08 season.  Each team raced up and down the court the entire game and with two seconds left on the clock Senior Nick Michels was attempting a game tying lay-up to send the game into over time.  However, the lay-up did not connect and the Patriots suffered an 83-81 loss to the disciplined Wonder Boys.

The Wonder Boys ran out to a 46-37 lead at half time after they shot 55 percent from the field and out rebounded DBU 25-14, which was the difference in the half.  The Patriots in the first half struggled from the field only shooting 40 percent and 22 percent from beyond the arch.

The second half saw each team go on significant runs.  The Wonder Boys went on the first run of the second half, after they pushed their lead to 11 points, but the stubborn Patriots refuse to quite and kept chipping at the lead.  

DBU finally closed within five points and with about forty seconds to play Freshman Braxton Adamson connected on his fourth three-pointer of the half to cut the lead to two.  ATU advanced the ball across mid court and ran the clock down as far as they could.  

With about eight seconds to play, they attempted a shot and missed.  Junior Shelby Lewis grabbed the board and raced down the court, and then he found Michels, who attempted his game tying lay-up with two seconds to play.  

The Patriots, who came up short in the end, were out rebounded by ATU, 39-31, and committed 19 turnovers to only 15 for the Wonder Boys.  DBU shot 45 percent from the field, while Arkansas Tech shot 50 percent.  The Patriots were better at the line making 11 of 16 free throws, while ATU made nine of 15.

Leading DBU tonight was Junior Brandon Wash, who had 19 points and seven boards, including six offensive rebounds.  Adamson and Michels each ended up with 16 points, while 14 of Adamson's points came in the second half.  Senior Dwight Coleman continues to play strong in the paint after he scored 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.

The Patriots will look to rebound from the tough loss on Tuesday night, when they play host to East Central University .  The game is scheduled to start at 7:00 in the DBU Burg Center.