The Dallas Baptist Patriot Basketball Team moved into third place in the Heartland Conference on Thursday night in San Antonio, after knocking off the Rattlers from St. Mary's University, 83-74. With the win, the Patriots (13-9) move to within one game of second place in the Heartland Conference with a 5-4 record.

Once again, it was Sophomore Nick Fox who led the way for the Patriots, as he went off for 34 points and eight rebounds, marking his third, 30-point effort this season. The Rattlers struggled to stop Fox as he finished 12-of-17 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the free throw line.

DBU led for the first 14 minutes of the game, but couldn't build up more than a six-point lead. A St. Mary's jumper tied the game at 20 apiece with 6:39 left, and after four more lead changes, the Rattlers found themselves with a 33-29 lead at halftime.

Fox tied the game for the Patriots less than three minutes into the second half after Junior Armie Lewis found him for an open layup, knotting the game at 38.

The two teams remained close for the next ten minutes, when a St. Mary's three-pointer tied the game for the seventh time at the 7:33 mark. That's when Fox and teammate Braxton Adamson went to work.

Fox started the Patriot run with a layup, followed by a jumper and three-pointer from Adamson to give DBU a 64-59 lead with 5:34 remaining. Adamson sealed the win for DBU as he went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line with less than two minutes to play. All together, the Patriots outscored the Rattlers, 26-17, over the final five minutes of play.

Adamson finished with 17 points on the night while Junior Jordan McGowen and Freshman Ryan Marsh chipped in 13 and 10, respectively.

The Patriots will travel to Laredo on February 19 for their next matchup against Texas A&M International. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.