Box Score

Thanks to three players scoring in double figures and a solid defensive effort, the DBU Patriot Basketball Team earned a thrilling 85-79 win over visiting University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Thursday night at The Burg Center. The double overtime affair moves DBU to 9-12 on the year, 6-8 in Heartland play.
 
The first half proved a defensive struggle, with seven lead changes and nine ties, including the close of the half at 28. The Patriots and Lions battling about as evenly as possible, with DBU shooting 36-percent from the field, while holding the visiting club to 38-percent overall.
 
The Lions came out firing in the second half, running off an 11-2 run to start the frame. DBU slowly climbed back, locking down the defense and taking back the lead with just more than nine minutes remaining, 45-44.
 
DBU held a small advantage for most of the remainder of the half, leading by as many as four with just over three minutes remaining. With the game tied at 60 and a minute left, Remy Ndiaye took a pass from Jason Gentry and converted a layup to give the Patriots the slim advantage. Seth Youngblood countered for UAFS with a pair of free throws, tying things at 62 to eventually send the contest to overtime.  
 
Much like the start of the second half, the Lions started quickly, this time on a 7-2 run. DBU quickly rebounded, tying the game at 72 with one minute remaining on a Jonathan Perry three-pointer. After a pair of Jake Toupal free throws for UAFS, Perry dropped in a layup, again tying things at 74. Toupal took the final shot for the Lions, with the three falling short, sending the game to a second overtime.
 
The second extra frame remained tight throughout, with DBU taking a two point lead into the final minute. After a missed three-pointer by the Lions with less than 30 seconds remaining, Myles Johnson converted a pair of free throws, followed by two more by Jason Gentry, ending the marathon contest at 85-79. The Patriot defense allowed just five Lion points in the frame, helping secure the victory.
 
Perry came off the bench for the Patriots, turning in a game-high 22 points, to go with six rebounds. Gentry tallied 17 points, six boards, and five assists, with Cory Carden adding 14. Ndiaye led all players with 10 rebounds.
 
UAFS falls to 17-5 overall, still second in the Heartland conference at 10-4. Toupal led three players in double-figures with 19 points. Kenny Martin added 15 points off the bench, followed by 10 points from Bo Franklin. Martin joined LJ Ross to lead the club with seven rebounds each.
 
All totaled, the Patriots held the Lions to 41-percent shooting, while knocking down 46-percent of their shots, as well as 19-of-25 free throws. Fort Smith struggled at the line, converting 20-of-31, good for 65-percent. The Lions won the battle of the boards, grabbing 47 total rebounds, compared to 31 for the Patriots.
 
Thursday's contest was the first of a three-game homestand, the final stand of the season. The Patriots host Rogers State, Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by a non-conference contest against South Dakota School of Mines, Monday at 7 p.m.