Box Score THE LEADIn the first round of the National Christian College Athletic Association Tournament, the Dallas Baptist Men's Basketball Team will advance to the Final Four after defeating the Grace College Lancers, 63-55.
Redshirt-freshman
Amari Bryant would shoot 71.4% from the field and lead all scorers with 16 points on the afternoon.
Tim Simmons and
Jonathan Perry would also score in doubles figures for the Patriots pouring in 14 and 10, respectively. Perry would also have a game high 12 rebounds.
Coming out of halftime down 28-20 and shooting a frosty 32% in the first half, the Patriots would explode in the second half outscoring Grace College 43-27.
Down 44-36 with 12:07 left in the game, the Patriots would make a surge to take their first lead of the afternoon scoring 10 of the next 11 points, taking a 46-45 advantage against the Lancers. Bryant would score 11 of his game high 16 points in the second half to help lift the Patriots.
The two squads would trade the lead as the minutes dwindled down. A Simmons three pointer with 2:50 left, would tie the game at 55. Stout defense would help DBU down the stretch, as they held GCU to 22% from the field and 9% from beyond the arc in the second half of play. A jumper by Bryant would give the Patriots a 57-55 lead over the Lancers and ultimately be the nail in the coffin. DBU would score the final six points from the charity stripe and hold GCU scoreless in the final minutes to advance in the NCCAA tourney.
DBU HEAD COACH, BLAKE FLICKER - ON WIN OVER GRACE COLLEGE"Great team effort today. It was fun to get a win against a good Grace team on the road in their gym. I was particularly pleased with our bench. We had guys really step up when their number was called today. Now we're in the final four."
INSIDE THE NUMBERS40 - Points in the paint scored by DBU.
20 - Bench points scored by DBU.
14 - Fast break points scored by DBU to GCU's 2 points.
7Â - Blocks by DBU to GCU's 1.
UP NEXT FOR THE PATRIOTSIn the final four of the NCCAA Tournament, the Patriots will face the Emmanuel College Lions on Thursday, March 19 at 5:15 PM in Winona Lake, IN.
