The Dallas Baptist University Men's Basketball Team dropped their season opener Saturday night, thanks to a pair of last second free throws by SAU guard Channin Harden. With his team down by one point, Harden stepped to the line and sank two free throws with one second left on the clock to give SAU the 65-66 win.

The Patriots found themselves down by as many as eight points early in the first half thanks to a poor shooting effort in which they connected on only 39 percent from the floor and 1-4 from behind the three-point line.

Trailing 20-12 with 8:38 left in the first half, Senior Braxton Adamson connected on a three-pointer and a layup, followed by layup from Sophomore Nick Fox to cut the Mulerider lead to one, 20-19. But SAU closed out the period with a 13-6 run to push their lead back to 33-25 at the half.

It didn't take long for the Patriots to overcome the gap in the second half. DBU scored six straight points thanks to a pair of layups from Junior Jordan McGowen and Adamson, followed by a jumper from Senior Jared Whitmire to make it a 35-33 game.

The Patriots tied the game for the third time at the 11:47 mark, and finally claimed their first lead of the night three minutes later when Whitmire connected on a layup off the assist from McGowen, for a 46-45 DBU lead.

The game remained close throughout the rest of the period with four lead changes and five ties over the final eight minutes of play.

Trailing by one with six seconds remaining on the clock, Adamson was fouled on his three-point attempt and stepped to the line with a chance to put the Patriots up by two. An 87 percent free throw shooter last season, Adamson missed the first attempt but connected on his next two to give the Patriots a one point lead.

The ensuing possession for the Muleriders, Harden was fouled on his drive to the basket, sending the guard to the free throw line with only one tick left on the clock. Harden calmly drained both shots to give Southern Arkansas the one-point victory.

McGowen and Fox led the way for the Patriots with 16 points apiece, while Adamson ended the night with 14.

The Patriots will return to Dallas for their first home game of the season on Monday, as they welcome Abilene Christian to the Burg Center. Tip-off is schedule for 7:00 p.m.