The Dallas Baptist Patriot Basketball Team lost their Heartland Conference opener on Monday evening, falling to St. Mary's University by the score of 63-70. With the loss, the Patriots drop to 8-5 on the season, and 0-1 in conference.

The two teams remained close throughout the first half with St. Mary's holding a narrow edge at the break. Leading by two, Jeremy Fonteneaux tipped in a missed jumper at the buzzer to give the Rattlers a 31-27 lead headed to the locker room.

The second half was much of the same with neither team able to build much of a lead. The two teams battled back and forth, exchanging the lead on 14 separate occasions. Down by one with 8:40 left in the game, Junior Jordan McGowen gave the Patriots a two point lead with his three-pointer from the top of the key, giving DBU a 52-50 advantage.

The Rattlers responded with a 14-4 run over the next seven minutes of play, capped off by a jumper from St. Mary's Ray Marshall.

Another three from McGowen with just under 40 seconds on the clock made it a two possession game, cutting the Patriots' deficit to 61-66. DBU was forced to foul in order to stop the clock, but the Rattlers knocked down four consecutive free throws to seal the 70-63 win.

McGowen led all scorers with 21 points and nine rebounds while Sophomore Nick Fox was the only other player in double figures for the Patriots with 11 points.

The Patriots will travel to Odessa for their first conference road swing on January 13 to take on UT Permian Basin. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.