THE RUNDOWN
DBU (15-7, 8-2 LSC) took down No. 1 Lubbock Christian, 75-73, Saturday at the Rip Griffen Center. Missed free throws by DBU and timely 3-pointers gave LCU a shot at overtime with 13 seconds remaining, but strong defense on the final possession forced the Chaps into a contested three as the Patriots spoiled homecoming with the upset win. 

The Patriots never panicked against the top team in the country. When the Chaps (20-1, 8-1 LSC) erased a nine-point deficit to tie the game at halftime, Cameron Kahn (16 points) opened the second on a 7-0 run to regain control. LCU took its first lead of the game at 49-47 with 15:00 remaining, and still, DBU maintained its composure, burying its next three baskets to retake a two-possession lead. The Patriots' only blemish on the day was at the charity stripe (9-of-17, .52%.) With 0:35 remaining, Kahn passed out of a trap as the Chaps began the free throw game. DBU went 2-of-3 at the line and was called for a violation, and LCU's Lloyd Daniels (21 points) scored five straight to make it a 74-73 lead with 0:14 to play. A Julian Miranda free throw with 13 seconds remaining forced LCU to look for the win from behind the arc and snapped its 20 game win streak. 

DBU took an early lead after a strong start on both sides of the floor. The Patriots chased down their own misses, drilled five 3-pointers, and put the Chaps defense on its heels with decisive drives to the basket. But 15 first-half points from Parker Hicks helped stomach the Patriots' punches and kept the Chaps within striking distance. A late outburst from Lloyd Daniels and missed free throws by DBU sent both sides into the break in a 37-37 deadlock.  

The Patriots withstood a five-minute scoring drought and 25 points from LCU's Parker Hicks by shooting 70% (7-of-10) from downtown in the second half. A pair of threes from both Miranda (15 points, 8 assists) and Carson Hughes (team-high 18 points) spaced the floor and allowed Kahn to do damage in the paint. Ricky Lujan (10 points, 5 rebounds) was the fourth Patriot to reach double figures, and Jalen White pulled down nine rebounds to help DBU win the boards and the game. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 
-DBU takes down a No. 1 opponent for the first time in school history.
-Carson Hughes has led DBU in scoring in back-to-back wins over LCU. He's totaled 34 points on 52% shooting. 
-The Patriots improve to 7-2 away from the Burg Center

COACH BLAKE FLICKNER ON THE WIN
"Not much of a better feeling than to get a win on the road against the No. 1 team in the nation. We have so much respect for the LCU coaches, and they have done a phenomenal job. Today our guys really stepped up. We had 15 assists and only seven turnovers, led by Jules [Julian Miranda] who had eight assists and just one turnover. Carson shot the ball really well, and Jalen was a beast on the boards... Shooting 53% from the field against the best defensive team in the conference is amazing. It was a very fun, gritty win. I'm proud of these guys."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 
12 - DBU's 12 three-pointers are the most scored against LCU this season.
53% - The Patriots shot 53% from the floor against a Chaps' defense ranked top-five in the country.  
7 - The Patriots committed just seven turnovers on the day. 
10 -1 - DBU outscored LCU 10-1 in second-chance points. 
3 - LCU's Parker Hicks and Lloyd Daniels have scored at least 20 points in three straight games. 

UP NEXT 
DBU heads to Wichita Falls to battle Midwestern State on Tuesday, February 8.