THE LEAD
The DBU Men's Basketball team punched their ticket to the NCAA Division II Tournament by knocking off UA Fort Smith 89-83 in overtime in the Heartland Conference Championship on Sunday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Down by as many as 14 points nearly midway through the second half, the Patriots put together a dramatic comeback to force overtime and then pulled away in OT to advance to the "Big Dance" for the second time in school history and the first time since 2009.
 
DBU (23-8) was led by the Tournament's MVP, Patrick Burke, who scored a career-high 35 points and 14 rebounds.  Seniors Joey Miller and Jonathan Perry joined Burke in double-digits, as Miller poured in 20 points, while Perry added 13. 
 
In a first half that saw UA Fort Smith (23-8) lead the entire way, the Lions carried a 33-30 advantage into the locker room at the break.  Coming out of the half, DBU grabbed their first lead of the game when Tim Simmons hit a shot in the paint with 18:07 remaining to put the Patriots on top, 36-35.  The Lions quickly retook the lead, 41-39 and outscored DBU 16-4 over the next five minutes to go up by 14 with 11:49 left on the clock.
 
The Patriots steadily chipped away at UAFS to draw within six points at 75-69 with just 42 seconds remaining in the game.  A layup by Burke, followed by a Lions' turnover gave the Patriots life.  Burke once again did the damage inside, hitting a bucket in the paint while he was fouled and then completed the three-point play at the charity stripe.
 
After a made free-throw and then a miss by the Lions' Dusan Stojanovic, UAFS grabbed the rebound, but a forced turnover gave the ball back to DBU. With just five seconds left to play, Burke delivered another shot in the paint, tying the game at 76 and sending the game to overtime.

In the overtime period, DBU and UAFS went back-and-forth through the first two-and-a-half minutes.  With the game tied at 80 apiece, a tip-in by Burke on a missed shot gave the Patriots a two-point advantage.  It would be a lead that the Patriots would not relinquish, as they outscored the Lions 7-3 over the final two minutes to close out an 89-83 victory and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
 
DBU HEAD COACH ON THE WIN AND ADVANCING TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
"I'm so happy for this group of guys.  We have been in so many tight games and in difficult late game situations and we have learned so much.  They hung in there and handled adversity and kept believing in each other.  For our seniors and our older guys that have been around a while, this is really special and I'm so happy for them."
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU knocked off Texas-Permian Basin, Newman, and UA Fort Smith on their way to their first ever Heartland Conference Tournament title.
- The Patriots played their seventh overtime game of the season.  DBU is 4-3 in those games.
- DBU's 23 wins is one shy of tying the 2008-2009 team for the most wins in school history.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4 – Patrick Burke notched his fourth double-double of the season.
26 – The Patriots dominated the paint, outscoring UA Fort Smith by 26 points, 56-30.
44  -DBU shot 44 percent from the field (34-for-77)
 
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP – Patrick Burke - DBU
Joey Miller – DBU
John Gramlich – St .Edward's
Jalen Love – Newman
DaVaunta Thomas – UA Fort Smith
Dusan Stojanovic – UA Fort Smith
 
UP NEXT
DBU will find out where they are headed for the NCAA Division II Tournament on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m.  Fans can watch the Men's Basketball Selection Show by clicking the link below.
 
NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Selection Show