THE LEAD
The DBU Men's Basketball team capped off a three-game stretch in four days with a convincing 97-69 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sunday at the Oscar Williams Field House in Goodwell, Oklahoma.  Led by freshman Julian Miranda's season-high 22-point performance, DBU (13-7, 7-3) took control of the game late in the second half, as they stormed to a 28-point victory.  Miranda also registered his first career double-double, as he dished out a team-best 10 assists.  Four other Patriots joined Miranda in double-figures, including Amari Bryant (17), Patrick Burke (15), Jordan Pratt (14), and Brayden Harris (10).
 
In a first half that saw DBU open up a lead as large as 10 points, the Patriots were able to carry a 42-35 advantage over OPSU (5-15, 0-11) into the locker room.  Following an Amari Bryant three-pointer that put the Patriots up by 12 with just over 14 minutes remaining, the Aggies staged a comeback, pulling to within two points with 12:19 left to play.
 
That would be as close as OPSU would come, as a Bryant layup three minutes later extended the DBU lead back to double-digits at 69-59.  A Patrick Burke shot in paint eventually capped off a 15-0 run.
 
Leading 79-59 with 5:55 left on the clock, the Patriots outscored OPSU 18-10 down the stretch to claim their 13th straight victory over the Aggies.  With the win, DBU moves back to within a half-game of Texas A&M International for first place in the Heartland Conference standings. 
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Julian Miranda put together an incredible scoring line of a season-high 22 points, 10 assists, four steals, and no turnovers.
- After a Brayden Harris jumper gave DBU an 11-10 lead with 14:29 left to play in the first half, the Patriots never relinquished their lead.
- DBU's 6-4 record on the road is the best among the ten teams in the Heartland Conference.
 
DBU HEAD COACH BLAKE FLICKNER ON THE TEAM'S WIN AFTER A LOSS YESTERDAY TO LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN
"I'm proud of the same way we bounced back today on the road.  We were sluggish at the start, but our bench provided us a real spark.  Julian Miranda was a real difference maker on both sides of the ball today."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
71 – DBU's bench scored 71 of the team's 97 points.
8 – The Patriots won their eighth game this year by 20 or more points.
19 – DBU outrebounded OPSU by 19 rebounds, 43-24.
 
UP NEXT
DBU returns home on Thursday to face St. Mary's at the Burg Center.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.