THE RUNDOWN 
The No. 19 DBU Men's Basketball team thumped ECU 80-65 Wednesday Evening at the Burg Center. The Patriots' defense jostled 2021 All-Conference selection Josh Apple and his ECU Tigers (0-3) into 23 turnovers to open the season 3-0.

Defense and depth lifted DBU to its 18th straight home win. The Patriots dismantled ECU's offense with double teams, charges, and 12 steals to hold the Tigers to a season-low 65 points. On the offensive end, four Patriots reached double figures headlined by a 16 point, 10 rebound double-double from Cameron Kahn. Redshirt freshman Isaac Bullard had his best game in a DBU uniform, scoring a season-high 12 points on tough pull-up jumpers. 

A Jalen Crutchfield jump shot cut the Tigers deficit to five at the end of the first half. DBU responded by forcing three straight turnovers and burying a pair of threes to regain control. Carson Hughes piloted the DBU offense down the stretch, notching six rebounds and five assists along with his game-high 18 points. Hughes and Julian Miranda fed DBU's hot hands throughout the night, setting up Austin Garner (12 points, three rebounds) for a game-high four 3-pointers. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 
-Javion Richard put on a defensive clinic vs. ECU, notching three steals and a pair of blocks. 
-DBU takes the 8-7 edge versus ECU in the all-time series.
-The Patriots boast a 78-11 home record since 2015.

HEAD COACH FLICKNER ON THE WIN 
"I thought we did a good job getting the ball out of Josh Apple and Jalen Crutchfield's hands... Offensively, we did a good job of breaking ECU's pressure. Isaac Bullard had his best game as a Patriot, and Javion Richard was really a difference-maker for us as well."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1 - Cameron Kahn records the first double-double of his Patriot career.
10 - The Patriots forced ECU's Josh Apple into 10 turnovers. 
4 - Austin Garner grabbed a career-high four steals. 

UP NEXT
DBU hosts Southern Arkansas on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. for its 2021-2022 Homecoming event.