HEARTLAND vs. RMAC CHALLENGE
November 9-10 | Austin, TX | Recreation and Convocation Center
 
MULTI-MEDIA COVERAGE
Live Video: Heartland Digital Network
Live Audio: Patriot Broadcasting Network
Live Stats: Live Stats
Twitter: @DBUBasketball
Facebook: DBU Athletics
 
COUNTDOWN TO TIP-OFF
St. Edward's University and the Recreation and Convocation Center will be the host site for the 2018 Heartland vs. RMAC Challenge.  The action begins on Friday at 5:00 p.m. when DBU faces Colorado Mesa, followed by St. Edward's and Colorado Christian at 7:00 p.m.  On Saturday, DBU takes on Colorado Christian at 2:00 p.m. and the tournament concludes with St. Edward's squaring off against Colorado Mesa at 4:00 p.m.
 
It marks the fifth consecutive year that DBU, St. Edward's, Colorado Christian, and Colorado Mesa have played in the Heartland vs. RMAC Challenge.
 
PATRIOT STORYLINES
- DBU is coming off a 2017-18 season that saw them claim back-to-back regular-season Heartland Conference titles, as well the Heartland Conference tournament title, making it two in the last three years.

- DBU also won 20-plus games for the third consecutive season after going 26-6 last year. The 26 wins last year set a school record.

- The Patriots must replace All-Conference performers in Patrick Burke and Boy Van Vliet, who logged just shy of 2,000 career minutes with 1,996. Van Vliet finished his career with 148 assists which ranks as the fourth most in a single-season. Burke finished his career as the program's sixth all-time leading scorer (1,290 points).
 
-Returning for the Patriots is sophomore Chandler Jacobs, who was the Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year while leading DBU with 14.9 points per game.

- DBU welcomes back former Freshman of the Year, Julian Miranda. Miranda led the Heartland Conference in assists in 2016-17 (147) but was lost last season due to injury.

- DBU returns seven lettermen from last year's squad including five players who combined for 82 percent of the teams made three-pointers last season.

- DBU holds the nation's third longest home winning streak in the nation at 25 games.

SCOUTING COLORADO CHRISTIAN
- Colorado Christian went 4-24 last year and posted a 3-19 conference record in the RMAC.
 
- The Cougars return a group that will contribute at a high level in Jeremiah Hanson, Stefan Hackethal and Tyler Murrell. Hanson and Hackethal both started all 28 games last season and averaged 15 and 13.7 points per game respectively.
 
- Jeff Hironaka is in his second season as the head coach at CCU.  As the head coach for seven seasons at Seattle Pacific from 2002-2009, Hironaka guided the Falcons to five postseason appearances including a trip to the Final Four in 2006.
 
- Colorado Christian fell on the road 72-69 to Wyoming in an exhibition last Thursday.
 
SCOUTING COLORADO MESA
- Colorado Mesa is coming off a season in which they recorded an 11-17 record with a 7-15 record in conference play.
 
- Colorado Mesa will begin this season under the direction of new head coach Mike DeGeorge who was hired on May 7, 2018. DeGeorge previously coached at Rhodes College, Cornell (Iowa), and Eureka (Ill.) and has an overall record of 195-248.
 
- Seniors Connor Nichols and Brandon Hoffer return for their final season in a Maverick uniform. Nichols was an All-RMAC selection a year ago and averaged 19.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while Hoffer averaged 6.5 points and 6.2 assists per game.
 
- The duo has played in 84 games together with Hoffer starting 71 of those games and Nichols with 53 starts.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
DBU is 3-3 all-time versus Colorado Christian and own a 2-2 mark against Colorado Mesa.  The Patriots are also 5-3 over the last four years in the Heartland vs. RMAC Challenge.
 
UP NEXT
Following DBU's first two games in Austin, Texas, the Patriots return to Dallas for their home opener when they face Howard Payne on Tuesday, November 13. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.