#6 DBU (12-6, 5-1) vs. St. Edward's (12-4, 5-2)
January 13 | 3:00 p.m. | Austin, TX| Recreations and Athletics Center
MULTI-MEDIA COVERAGE
Video: LSC Digital Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @DBUBasketball
Facebook: DBU Athletics
COUNTDOWN TO TIP-OFF
The Patriots suppressed a comeback from the Rattlers on Thursday night at the Bill Greehey Arena to pull out a 91-90 win over the Rattlers. STMU trailed by as many as 14 in the second half and shrunk the margin to one with less than five seconds in the game.
The Patriots jumped out to a 9-0 lead under a minute into the first half, capped off by a Cameron Kahn jumper. STMU, on an offensive surge, held DBU scoreless for two minutes until a technical put DBU up 21-10 after two
Trevor Frank free throws.
A Ta'Jay Dunlap jumper allowed the Patriots to open their own 9-0 run, putting DBU up by 16 points, their largest lead of the half. With 1:57 left in the half, the Rattlers would go a 6-0 run, cutting the Patriots' lead to 10, but DBU maintained their sizeable advantage and headed to the locker room up 50-38.
Near the midway point of the second half, STMU drew to within four points of DBU. At the 8:19 mark, the Rattlers' Franklin Agu converted a three-point play with a layup and a made free throw to bring STMU to within two of the Patriots. A Cody Stevens three-pointer assisted by Lujan would extend the Patriots' lead back to four, putting DBU up 84-80 with 4:05 left to play.
A pivotal out-of-bounds turnover allowed the Patriots to go up by five with 24 seconds left. With seven seconds remaining, the Rattlers hoped to tie the game with a three-pointer after a team timeout; Dunlap would extend the Patriots' lead to four after a personal foul on STMU led to two made free throws. On the fastbreak, Jones's three-pointer cut DBU's lead to one with one second left to play, but it wouldn't be enough as time ran out with the Patriots on top 91-90.
On Saturday, the Patriots continue their schedule in Austin against St. Edward's.
PATRIOT STORYLINES
- DBU is ranked as high as No. 6 in the NABC Coaches Poll and is ranked in all three national polls.
- DBU ranks first in the LSC and eighth in the nation in steals, averaging 10.9 per game. The Patriots lead the conference and rank sixth in the nation for scoring offenses (93.1).
- Defensively, DBU ranks first in the LSC and sixth in the nation in turnovers forced per game (21).
- Cameron Kahn ranks second in the conference points per game, averaging 20.3.
- Kahn is one point from passing Patrick Burke for the seventh most points in program history and 11 from passing Eddie Gloviak for sixth on the list with 1,300.
- Deng Dut leads the Patriots in assists (48). Dut is currently ranked ninth in the conference in assists per game.
-Ta'Jay Dunlap (24) and
Ricky Lujan (26) lead DBU in steals and are ranked second in the conference for their steals per game (2).
SCOUTING ST. EDWARD'S
- St. Edward's defeated UT Tyler 67-60 on Thursday, improving to 5-2 in conference play.
- The Hilltoppers rank first in the conference and fourth in the nation for their field goal percentage, averaging 80.2.
- St. Edward's ranks fourth in the conference in three-pointers per game (8.9) and fifth in free throws made per game (17.4).
- Blake Nielsen leads the conference and nation (tied with seven other players) in triple-doubles. Nielsen leads the conference in assists (79) and ranks second in steals (26).
- Sean Elkinton ranks first in the conference in field goals (108) and points (289). Elkinton ranks fourth in the conference for his six double-doubles.
- Gavino Ramos leads the Hilltoppers with his 84.9% free throw percentage, ranking him second in the conference for free throws.
SERIES HISTORY
The Hilltoppers lead the all-time series, 18-15. In their last meeting at the St. Edwards Recreation and Athletics Center on February 6, 2023, St. Edward's defeated DBU, 66-63. This will be the 34th matchup between DBU and St. Edward's since the Hilltoppers defeated the Patriots 88-83 on December 30, 2006. This will be a matchup between two teams that are both 3-0 in the East Division of the Lone Star Conference standings.
UP NEXT
The Patriots will face Texas A&M-Kingsville at the Burg Center next Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
