THE LEAD
The DBU Men's Basketball team knocked off Newman University 95-87 to earn a trip to the Heartland Conference Tournament Championship game in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  After leading by as many as 17 points with just over nine minutes remaining in the game, the Patriots held off a valiant comeback by the Jets that saw them pull to within two points with 52 seconds left on the clock.  The win sends DBU to the conference championship for the first time since the Patriots played for the league title in 2009.
 
Shannon Lilly led DBU (22-8) with a game-high 21 point performance.  Joey Miller and Patrick Burke also played key roles on the offensive end, as the tandem each poured in 19 points.
 
On a night in which the Patriots led for the entire game, DBU went up by as many as 11 points in the first half and took a 44-35 advantage into the locker room at the half.
 
In the second half, Newman (17-13) trimmed the Patriots' lead to five when Gavin Thurman hit a jumper with 18:30 remaining.  DBU responded by going on a 22-10 run over the next nine minutes to take their largest lead of the night at 66-49 with 9:30 left on the clock.
 
Facing elimination, the Jets battled back to cut the deficit to single-digits when Cortrael Colbert threw down a dunk with 4:50 left in the second half.  Newman would continue to chip away at the Patriots' lead and came to within two of DBU, as a three-pointer from Jarvis Williams made the score 82-80. 
 
With the Patriots still leading by two at 84-82, Patrick Burke hit a layup and then connected on a free-throw following a foul, giving DBU a five-point lead and some breathing room.  The Patriots would end up sealing the win by going 8-for-8 at the free-throw line down the stretch.  
 
DBU HEAD COACH, BLAKE FLICKNER, ON THE PATRIOTS' PERFORMANCE & ADVANCING
"It was an outstanding win tonight.  The guys really hung in together and handled adversity well.  We have given ourselves another chance to play for a conference championship tomorrow and I just couldn't be more pleased or proud of these guys.  Burke was a monster on the glass in the first half and Shannon and Joey made some incredible passes and decisions with the ball.  Tomorrow is going to be a fun game and I'm glad these guys get an opportunity to be in a game like this."
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- With tonight's win, DBU knocked off Newman for the third time this year.
- DBU has scored 90 points or more in each of their two games in the Heartland Conference Tournament.
- A win versus UA Fort Smith on Sunday would send DBU to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
11 – DBU outrebounded Newman by 11 boards, 42-31.
10 – Joey Miller went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line tonight.
83 – As a team, DBU shot 83 percent from the line (30-for-36).
 
UP NEXT
DBU faces UA Fort Smith in the Heartland Conference Tournament Championship on Sunday.  Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.