THE LEAD
The DBU Men's Basketball kept their hold on first place in the Heartland Conference standings and extended their win streak to four games with a thrilling 88-87 win over Newman on Saturday in Wichita, Kansas.   With the Patriots leading 88-85 in the final seconds, the Jets' Jarvis Williams missed a three-pointer to tie the game and a tip-in by Jalen Love could only cut the deficit to one, as DBU escaped with a one-point victory. 
 
In the win, four Patriots finished in double-digits, led by Patrick Burke, who scored a game-high 21 points.  Joey Miller totaled 16 points, while Shannon Lilly scored 15 and Myles Johnson added 12.
 
After a back-and-forth first half that saw DBU take a 46-43 lead into the break, the Patriots opened up an eight-point lead just three minutes into the second half.  Newman would charge back, going on a 12-4 run of their own to tie the game at 59 with 12:44 left on the clock. 

Still tied with 3:43 remaining in the game, a Shannon Lilly jumper put DBU back on top, 79-77.  After Newman's Gavin Thurman completed a three-point play, the Jets retook the lead, 81-80, with less than two minutes remaining. 

On the Patriots' next possession, Jonathan Perry pulled down a key offensive rebound and Myles Johnson drained a three-pointer to give DBU an 83-81 advantage.  It would be a lead that the Patriots would not relinquish, as Joey Miller drained a pair of free-throws with nine seconds left on the clock to extend DBU's lead to three.
 
DBU HEAD COACH ON THE CLOSE WIN
"We got a really good, gritty effort again today.  The game was back and forth and high scoring.  Both teams were efficient offensively, but our guys found a way to piece a few stops together in the second half.  It was another very unselfish team effort.  Finding ways to win on the road is no easy task and I'm so proud of this group."
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU's 18-5 record matches the 2008-2009 team for the school's best record through 23 games.
- For the third time this year, the Patriots have won four straight games.
- DBU and Newman had seven lead changes and the game was tied five times.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
50 – The Patriots shot 50 percent from the field (33-for-66).
29 – DBU held Newman to 29 percent shooting from three-point range (7-for-24).
3 – The Patriots outrebounded Newman by three boards, 38-35.
 
UP NEXT
DBU travels to Oklahoma City on Monday to face Oklahoma Christian.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.