THE RUNDOWN
After two games being postponed this week, the Patriots (13-10, 8-7 LSC) returned to action with a comeback win over St. Mary's (12-9, 9-7 LSC) on the road. Ta'Jay Dunlap, Carson Hughes, Ricky Lujan, and Cameron Kahn contributed 87% of DBU's 85 points.
 
Both offenses came out ready to fire in the get-go on Saturday afternoon in San Antonio. Eight minutes into the game, the two teams were tied at 18 and kept a rhythm of trading the lead deep into the first half. Just inside the three-minute mark, Hughes hit a three for DBU to put the Patriots within one of St. Mary's, 36-37, but the Rattlers responded with a quick 10-0 run to close a first frame with as much scoring as in the entirety DBU's last game against UAFS.
 
Trailing by 11 entering the second half, the Patriots looked to chip away at the double-digit deficit. Down, 38-51, Hughes trailblazed an 18-6 run for DBU, with 8 points alongside help from Kahn, White, and Justin Haire during the stretch. The Rattlers kept the Patriots at arm's length for eight minutes, regaining the advantage while fending off two ties from DBU.
 
When crunch time came, the Patriots rose to the occasion. Within four minutes of the final buzzer, DBU shot 7-8 from the free throw line. The shooting proved critical, as Tyler Caron of St. Mary's made a prayer from half court as time expired to make the difference only one point, but without a whistle from the officials, the Patriots, who trailed by as many as 13, snuck away with their 3rd straight victory.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Cameron Kahn (16 points, 12 rebounds) garnered his 5th double-double of the season and his 4th in the last 5 games.
- Austin Garner, Carson Hughes, Ricky Lujan, and Jalen White each snagged at least two steals.
- St. Mary's was held to just a 29% shooting in the 2nd half.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
10 - Saturday's win is DBU's 10th consecutive win over St. Mary's.
58.5 - The Patriots shot 58.5% from the field, their best rate against an NCAA opponent this season.
74 - Ta'Jay Dunlap (21), Carson Hughes (20), Ricky Lujan (17), and Cameron Kahn (16) combined for 74 points.
 
BLAKE FLICKNER ON THE COMEBACK
"Never, never, never give up! Today was everything that is great about college basketball. Huge win on the road against a team that came out firing on all cylinders. St. Mary's threw some haymakers, but we kept battling and competing. Really proud of the toughness we showed today as a team. Lots of guys contributed in big ways. Carson, Cam, Ricky, and Ta'Jay all made huge plays offensively to carry us at different times. Defensively, we turned it around in the second half, with Austin and Jalen especially making some big defensive plays. We made our free throws down the stretch. And we showed some great poise and grit coming from behind."
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots drive up I-35 to Austin for a showdown with St. Edward's on Monday. Tip-off is at 3:00 pm.
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