THE RUNDOWN
The #21 DBU Men's Basketball team opened the 2018-19 season falling to Colorado Mesa 91-80 in the Heartland vs. RMAC Challenge at the Recreation and Convocation Center in Austin, Texas, on Friday evening.  DBU shot 43.8 percent from the field and finished 30 percent from beyond the arc.  Offensively, JT Harris led the Patriots with 20 points on 6-13 from the field, while Conner Lidiak registered 13 points of his own shooting 40 percent from three. Jordan Manse and Carter Brown each finished in double-figures with 12 points each.
 
A three-pointer from Harris two minutes into the contest opened the scoring for DBU, but a hot-shooting first half helped the Mavericks hold the lead for first 20 minutes of the game, leading by as many as 16. Colorado Mesa shot 73 percent from beyond the arc cashing in on 8-11 three-pointers. The Patriots made a late run to cut the lead to 12 at the half led by Carter Brown, down 48-36.
 
In the second half, the Mavericks continued the exceptional shooting performance opening the second half with a 9-5 run to widen their lead to 16. Connor Lidiak hit back-to-back threes to cut the Mesa lead to 10 with 13 minutes remaining. Sam Walters made his fifth three-pointer that extended the Mesa lead back to 15, part of his team-high five three-pointers, finishing with 19 points. The Patriots later cut the lead to eight with 1:05 left in the game, but the Mavericks would hold DBU at bay to win 91-80.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU's loss to Colorado Mesa marks their first season opening defeat since 2014, when the Patriots fell to the Mavericks in Heartland RMAC Challenge.
- Colorado Mesa shot an astounding 77 percent from beyond the arc, going 13-17 as a team
- DBU won the turnover battle against Colorado Mesa with 11, opposed to Mesa's 18.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
36 - DBU showed depth as the bench chipped in for 36 of the 81 total points.
7- The Patriots posted seven second chance buckets opposed to two from Colorado Mesa.
6 – Freshman Jalen White scored six points in his collegiate debut.
 
UP NEXT
DBU faces Colorado Christian in the final game of the Heartland vs. RMAC Challenge on Saturday at the Recreation and Convocation Center.  Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.