THE RUNDOWN
Top-seeded DBU advanced to the semifinal round of the Heartland Conference Tournament with an 84-72 quarterfinal victory over eighth-seeded Texas A&M International on Thursday. Just a day after being named First Team All-Heartland Conference and Second Team All-Conference and Heartland Freshman of the Year, respectively, Patrick Burke and Chandler Jacobs combined for 42 points on 15-of-18 shooting.

The Dustdevils (11-18) controlled the pace of the game early, using their trademark deliberate tempo to extend the lead to 19-16 with just under nine minutes to play. That lead would be TAMIU's largest and last, as the Patriots (24-5) scored 13 unanswered points and took a 37-21 lead into the locker room at halftime. 

DBU grew its lead to as much as 20 points, leading 71-51 with seven minutes to play. The Dustdevils would cut into the lead with an 8-0 run starting at the seven-minute mark, but the Patriots outlasted the attack.

Burke was 10 for 10 from the floor and hauled in five rebounds. Jacobs made five of eight field goals and all 11 of his free throw attempts. JT Harris and Boy Van Vliet tied for the team lead with six rebounds. Harris scored 16 points, making four of eight free throw attempts, and Van Vliet, an Honorable Mention All-Conference honoree, added 11. Carter Brown dished out six assists with no turnovers.

 THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Patriots will face the winner of the quarterfinal game between No. 4 Lubbock Christian and No. 5 Rogers State, to be played at noon Friday. DBU was 2-2 against those teams in the regular season.
- DBU remains undefeated in neutral-site games.
- The Patriots have won their last five Heartland Conference Tournament quarterfinal games.


INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.869 - Burke is shooting .869 (20-23) from the floor in his last three games.
8 - Jacobs has scored at least 15 points in his last eight games and 21 or more in three of the last four. 
.546 - DBU is shooting .546 (222-406) in its last six games.
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots will face either Lubbock Christian or Rogers State in the semifinal round Saturday at noon in Tulsa, OK.