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

OPENING TIP – The Dallas Baptist Men's Basketball Team kicked off its final home stand of the regular season with an exciting, 85-79, double overtime victory Thursday night over Arkansas-Fort Smith. DBU continues its stretch of three games in five days with another Heartland opponent on Saturday, welcoming Rogers State to the Burg Center. Tip-off is set for 2 PM.
 
The Patriots (9-12, 6-8) move to a game out of the final Heartland Conference Tournament seed behind Texas-Permian Basin who dropped a 76-73 nail-biter at St. Mary's on Thursday. St. Edward's also sits in the tournament picture at fifth place a half game in front of DBU. The Hilltoppers also won on Thursday, surviving a late scare, 94-92 at Oklahoma Panhandle State.

LAST TIME ON THE HARDWOOD –  DBU moved to 7-6 at home on the campaign, and continues to remain in contention for that final seed in the conference tournament with just four league affairs remaining. The Patriots weren't shy on the dramatics Thursday evening, as both teams battled to an even tie, 28-28, at halftime.
 
An 11-2 run by the visiting UAFS squad didn't diminish the Patriots' confidence, as they slow climbed back locking the defense down and reclaiming the edge 45-44 just under the midway point of the second half.
 
In the final minute, DBU grabbed a slim lead from a layup by senior, Remy Ndiaye. The Lions answered with a pair of free throws by Seth Youngblood to close regulation 64-64.
 
Another quick start to the first overtime frame put UAFS up following a 7-2 spurt. However, the home team locked down on defense once again to narrow the gap and neither team broke the knotted contest by the final buzzer.
 
The second extra frame continued to be tight throughout, but the Patriots finally shook the momentum forcing a missed three-pointer by UAFS with less than 30 seconds remaining. Redshirt freshman, Myles Johnson, and sophomore, Jason Gentry, iced the game with a pair of free throws a piece to extend DBU's two-point edge at the time.
 
Redshirt sophomore, Jonathan Perry, turned in his fourth straight team-high 22 points, to go with six rebounds. Gentry chipped in 17 points while senior, Cory Carden, added his second season-highest 14 points in the thriller.
 
The Patriots shot well at 46-percent from the floor, including a 19-for-25 effort at the free throw line. UAFS connected from the field at a 41-percent clip and slumped going 20-for-31 at the charity stripe.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH – Perry continues to be the leading scorer on the squad with 379 points and ranks second in the Heartland Conference for total points. The Kerrville, Texas, native entered his fourth consecutive week tops in the league with 17.9 points averaged per game (ppg). He also is shooting well from the charity stripe, boasting the second highest percentage in the conference with an 84.9 clip.
 
The forward has claimed 19 double-digit scoring performances in 21 games on the campaign, while extending a season-long 11 games in a row to notch the feat. In his second season, Perry continues to impress as he has boasted 20 or more points in eight contests, including his record-breaking 47 points versus Southeastern Oklahoma State. He has also claimed the 20-point mark in four of his last six affairs, and has been the team-leading scorer in five of the last six.
 
Ndiaye continues to be a force inside the post for the Patriots. The native of Dakar, Senegal has poured in 230 points to claim second on the squad behind Perry. The forward has been particularly solid at home, notching nine of his 11 double-digit scoring performances on the season.
 
On the latest season-long, five-game home stint, Ndiaye boasted double figures in four of the affairs, coming up short a point in the lone one he missed. The senior has been sharp when he shoots, boasting a 63-percent shooting average from the floor, which is highest in the Heartland. His career-best mark has been set twice this campaign, with the current one being 27 points versus Texas-Permian Basin.
 
Gentry returned to the double-digit scoring column on Thursday with the second season-highest, 17 points, in the win. A native of Hondo, Texas, the second-year starter has boasted seven double figure contests, with five occurring in the past eight games. His total the other night is five-points short of his season-high, 22 points against Texas A&M Commerce at the Burg Center.
 
Fellow guard, Carden, has also been a big contributor in recent affairs. The starting backcourt duo combined for 45 points in the previous pair of wins, and also totaled 15 assists in the victories.

SCOUTING ROGERS STATE – The Hillcats (15-8, 10-5) are winners of three of their last four match-ups, claimed a 77-74 victory on Thursday at Oklahoma Christian. RSU withstood a dramatic run at the end to hold off a feisty Eagles squad. A 7-1 run by Oklahoma Christian cut the Hillcats advantage to one point with a minute to play.
 
RSU's Damion Hooks drained a crucial jumper after winding the clock down to put the road team up by three. The Eagles returned the next possession with a quick layup but free throws re-extended the edge for RSU. The Hillcats defended well and contested a desperation three-pointer that sailed off line to seal the win.
 
Rogers State is 4-4 away from the friendly home confines, where the team has posted a 10-3 record on the campaign. The Hillcats have outscored their opponents 78.9-74.2 on the year and are shooting 47-percent from the field.

Leading the team offensively is Hooks with 16.3 ppg. He now boasts 376 points right behind DBU's Perry for being top three in the league. Joining Hooks to complete the high scoring trio are Robinson Odoch Opong and J.C. Hartzler tallying 15.5 and 13.2 ppg, respectively.  
 
SERIES HISTORY – The programs met for the first time earlier this season at Rogers State. DBU fell 90-74 in the New Year affair after coming off an 11-day break. The Patriots led by six in the early going, but would never lead again. Trailing out of intermission 43-40, RSU outshot the Patriots 44-percent to 27-percent in the second frame.
 
In the setback, Johnson matched a season-high with 21 points. Sophomore, Charles Allen, added 12, while junior, Wesley Gipson, dropped 10 points from the bench.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE – Dallas Baptist continues its busy three-game home stand on Monday, Feb. 17. The contest will feature a non-conference opponent, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, ending a string of 13-straight Heartland foes opposing DBU. Tip is scheduled for 7 PM. Following the trio of home games, the Patriots will conclude their regular season with three away contests in a row.