The Dallas Baptist Patriot Basketball Team lost a heartbreaker to Heartland Conference leader, Texas A&M International, Saturday afternoon in Laredo. Dustdevil guard Will Faiivae scored the go ahead layup for TAMIU with four seconds left in the game to hold off the visiting Patriots, 66-64. The loss drops DBU to 13-10 overall, and 5-5 in conference action.

International held as much as a 10-point lead late in the first half, but a jumper by Junior T.J. Clark and three-pointer at the buzzer by Junior Jordan McGowen, trimmed the Patriot deficit to just five points at the break, 29-34.

The Patriots chipped away at their deficit for the first six and half minutes of the second period, and finally took their first lead since the opening possession with 13:35 remaining. A slashing layup by Senior Jared Whitmire gave DBU a 43-42 lead, but the Dustdevils tied it up and took a one-point lead the ensuing possession with a pair of free throws.

Still down four with 10:42 on the clock, DBU used a 13-2 run over the next five minutes to take their biggest lead of the night, 62-55. The run was a result of tough defense and aggressive play on the offensive end by the Patriots, as DBU connected on nine-of-ten free throws over the five minutes span.
Not to be outdone, the Dustdevils scored nine straight points on the ensuing five possessions to recapture the lead, 64-62, with three minutes left.

After a stop on the defensive end and rebound by McGowen, the Patriots knotted the game at 64 with 1:22 left, thanks to another layup from Whitmire.

Still with a foul to give, DBU fouled the Dustdevils with 19 seconds left, setting up the game's last possession. TAMIU inbounded to Faiivae, who scored the driving layup with only four seconds left. The win secured the Heartland Conference Championship for the Dustdevils, as they improve to 8-3.

McGowen led the Patriots offensively with 15 points and five rebounds, while Senior Braxton Adamson chipped in 12 points.

DBU will return to action at the Burg Center on Monday, for a home game against UT-Permian Basin. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.