MEDIA COVERAGE
Live Video/Audio: Patriot Broadcasting Network  
Live Stats: DBU Livestats

OPENING TIP – The Dallas Baptist Men's Basketball Team returns to action at the Burg Center on Thursday to take on St. Mary's University at 7 PM. DBU snapped a season-long, six-game losing slide on Saturday and looks to build momentum at a venue the squad as gone 5-5 at this year. The Patriots (5-9, 2-5) wrap-up the final two games of this five-game stretch at home, before taking to the road next week.

LAST TIME ON THE HARDWOOD – On Saturday DBU outplayed Oklahoma Panhandle State in the second half to triumph 73-62, and snapped a six-game skid. The victory also ended a streak of five losses in a row to Heartland Conference Opponents.
 
Redshirt sophomore, Myles Johnson, matched a career-high leading the Patriots with 21 points and has broken double-digits in the scoring column the past three games. Following Johnson in scoring was sophomore, Jason Gentry, and redshirt sophomore, Jonathan Perry, adding 14 apiece. Senior, Remy Ndiaye, added 10 points to round out the double figure scoring quartet.
 
Freshman, Jordan Pratt, knocked in seven points, but six came off a pair of three-pointers at crucial points in the contest. Ndiaye also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, while junior, Chris Strong, and Perry each grabbed six.
 
The difference in the game was the turnover battle, as DBU gathered 17 points off of 15 OPSU miscues. The home squad only committed eight turnovers and had 10 steals compared to the Aggie's one.
 
After boasting its first lead on the afternoon late in the first stanza, the Aggies responded with a run 6-0 run in the final 16 seconds, capped by a half court buzzer-beater shot. The Patriots weren't fazed and continued battling until a little under the halfway mark of the second half.
 
DBU outscored the Aggies 38-26 in the second frame, and held the opposition without a field goal from the 6:06 mark to the 2:37 point of the ballgame.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH – Perry has risen up as the leading scorer for the Men's Basketball Team. Through 14 games, the native of Kerrville, Texas sits atop the Heartland Conference averaging 18.3 points per game (ppg). The scoring leader for DBU also ranks fourth in the league for points scored with 258.
 
Perry has boasted double-digit scoring affairs in 12 of the team's 14 contests this year. He has broken the 20-point mark in four, including his 47-point personal best to break into program history as the single-game highest scorer. The forward has entered double figures in the scoring column the past four-straight games.
 
Johnson's recent hot streak of play has increased his scoring average to help rank the forward second on the squad with 11.9 ppg. The Arlington, Texas, native in his first year playing claimed a season-high 21 points for the second time in his last contest out. The other personal-high affair came versus Rogers State three weekends ago. Through 14 games, the forward has posted double-digits in scoring in eight of them. Johnson's personal best tops his previous high earned when he poured in 17 at homecoming versus Mid-America Christian. On Saturday, Johnson surpassed the highest amount of shots made from behind the three-point arc, and now claims the team-lead with 25. He is shooting 37-percent from three-point land on the campaign.
 
Gentry broke the double figure mark in scoring for just the third time this season in the last outing, but has put up strong stats in other categories. His previous contest marks the second highest shooting performance with 14 points on the year, but the second-year guard did notch at least five assists for the sixth game on the campaign.
 
The native of Hondo, Texas has dished out 62 assists total to be placed fifth in the Heartland. His average per game tallies a 4.4 clip and ties the sophomore third in the Conference rankings.

SCOUTING ST. MARY'S – The Rattlers (12-3, 5-2) have posted an impressive record at this stage of the season, and have won four of their last five contests. St. Mary's is 4-0 on the road, and the Patriots will be looking to hand them its first defeat away from the home confines.
 
Last time the Rattlers required triple overtime to escape Laredo, Texas with an 87-85 win over Texas A&M International. This match-up delivered what was advertised, pitting two of the top teams in the league against each other. After ending regulation with the scoreboard tied up, both squads played two more extra frames to no avail. Finally in the third overtime, a buzzer-beating game-winner from Marvin Binney lifted St. Mary's in the thrilling game.
 
Marvin Whitt poured a team-high 24 points to lead a trio of St. Mary's players in double figures. Joe Monroe contributed 15, while Binney chipped in 12. JJ Bolton paced the squad on the glass breaking double-digits in rebounding with 10.
 
As a team, the Rattlers are averaging 72.7 ppg while holding opponents to 67.9. The squad relies on a strong defensive presence limiting teams to 41-percent, and possesses a wide rebounding margin of 7.3.
 
Whitt is the lone player to average double-digits in the scoring column, totaling 14.8 a night.
 
Last season, DBU had success against the St. Mary's program, clinching two close victories at each venue. In the Burg Center, it was a strong Patriots' defense that aided a close 73-69 win. The Patriots used eight steals and 18 forced turnovers to lead to the final tally on the scoreboard.
 
Of the current returners that saw action in that close affair, Perry did contribute 16 points as the second-highest scorer in the game. Senior, Cory Carden, also eclipsed the double-digit mark with 11.

HEARTLAND NUMBERS – DBU has gone 2-5 thus far in conference action. The Patriots won Saturday for the first time in league action, since they claimed the Heartland Opener over Lubbock Christian 61-59.
 
The Men's Basketball Team is ranked fourth in the Heartland averaging 7.6 steals per game. This aids DBU's plus 2.79 turnover margin which places the squad second in the league. Dallas Baptist has forced 15.5 while committing turnovers at a 12.7 clip.
 
This contest will feature the top scoring defense against one of the offenses listed in the bottom half of the league. The Rattlers were able to just get by the second highest ranked offense in the Heartland last Saturday.
 
St. Mary's also holds the second spot in the Heartland standings with 3.8 blocked shots.
 
The Rattlers were selected in the preseason poll to finish second in the Heartland Conference Standings. So far the squad has performed to expectations sitting tied for second with three teams and becoming the first to defeat an unbeaten Texas A&M International group that sits in first.  
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE – Dallas Baptist concludes its season-long, five-game home stand this Saturday versus Texas A&M International. The Patriots embark on their longest four-game road trip of the campaign next. The journey begins Jan. 30 at St. Edward's University. Tip-off is slated for 7 PM. Following that, action continues on Feb. 1 at McMurry for a 2 PM start time.