THE RUNDOWN
DBU (0-1) dropped a seven-point affair to Hillsdale College (1-0) in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Florida, to commence the 2022-23 campaign. After a Charger three-pointer at 13:05 in the first half, the Patriots trailed for the remainder of the contest.
 
Both squads struggled to find an offensive rhythm at begin the game. After seeing multiple shots avoid friendly rolls, Hillsdale hit their stride with a 16-2 run to go up, 22-9, with just over eight minutes left in the opening half. With offensive woes still looming, guards Micaiah Abii and Ta'Jay Dunlap kept DBU in reach of the Chargers with seven points apiece in a half where both teams shot below 45%.
 
Down 32-21 to start the second period, Carson Hughes and Dunlap made a quick 6 points to get the Patriots within two possessions, 32-27. Hillsdale kept DBU just outside arm's reach for the bulk of the half, but the Patriots narrowed the margin to one, 53-52, on a pair of Jalen White free throws with just over four minutes left in the game. Despite the late surge, the Patriots were unable to complete the comeback and ultimately fell to the Chargers, 64-57.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU loses its season opener for the first time since 2018.
- In their DBU debuts, transfers Micaiah Abii and Ta'Jay Dunlap combined for 22 points on 56% shooting, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals.
- The Patriots struggled from the free throw line, connecting on just 9-23 from the charity stripe.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
9 - DBU's 9 steals are the most they have recorded since taking 12 possessions from Eastern New Mexico on February 3rd last season.
23 - After shooting a 36% from the floor in the first half, the Patriots bettered their shooting by 23 percentage points, converting 59% of their field goals in the second half.
42 - The Patriots held the Hillsdale to a 42% field goal percentage.
 
BLAKE FLICKNER ON HIS TEAM'S RESPONSE IN THE SECOND HALF
"We obviously got in a hole in the first half…but I love the way our team responded. Second half, [we] came out and competed—were chipping away at the lead, cut it to one, cut it to one possession a couple of times. [We] had some chances, just could never get over the hump there to take the lead."
 
UP NEXT
DBU plays in its second and final game of the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday with a bout against No. 4 Nova Southeastern. Tip-off is at 12:15 pm CST.
  Read Full Article