#4 DBU (13-1, 7-1) vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-11, 1-8)
January 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Dallas, TX| Burg Center
MULTI-MEDIA COVERAGE
Video: LSC Digital Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @DBUBasketball
Facebook: DBU Athletics
COUNTDOWN TO TIP-OFF
No. 4 DBU improved to 13-1 after an 81-77 win over St. Edward's Saturday in Austin, Texas. Cameron Kahn led the Patriots with a team-high 22 points as the Patriots improved to 7-1 in conference play and 4-0 in the East Division of the LSC standings.
SEU went on an early 8-0 run just minutes into the game with their high-pressure defense, forcing three Patriots turnovers. DBU responded with their own 9-2 run, cutting the Hilltoppers' lead to one before a Trevor Frank three-pointer tied the game at 16 apiece.
The Hilltoppers regained their lead with 8:28 left to play in the half but gave it up after a Cameron Kahn dunk on a fast break that was started by a Frank steal to put the Patriots up 28-25. The two East Division leaders would battle it out in lead changes in the last minutes of the half until a
Ricky Lujan layup put DBU up 38-37, ending the razor-thin first half.
In the second half, a 7-0 Patriots' run capped off by a Cody Stevens layup gave DBU their first double-digit lead of the half. SEU responded with an 11-1 run with 9:32 left to play in the half to pull to within two of DBU. The Patriots would then go on a pair of offensive surges, extending their lead to 76-67. SEU would get a layup in the last second of the game, but it wouldn't be enough as time ran out, with DBU holding on for an 81-77 road win.
On Thursday, the Patriots continue their schedule in Dallas against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
PATRIOT STORYLINES
- DBU is ranked as high as No. 4 in the NABC Coaches Poll and is ranked in all three national polls.
- The Patriots are seeking to go 14-1 through their first 15 games for the first time in program history.
- 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 their scoring offense (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. Khan was recently named on Bevo Francis's Top 100 Watch List.
- Deng Dut leads the Patriots in assists. Dut is currently ranked ninth in the conference in assists per game.
- Ta'Jay Dunlap and
Ricky Lujan lead DBU in steals (27) and are ranked second in the conference for their steals per game (2).
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE
- Texas A&M-Kingsville recently suffered their eighth conference loss Thursday against Oklahoma Christan.
- The Javelinas are ranked fourth in the conferences in fastbreak points, averaging 12.86.
- Defensively, Texas A&M-Kingsville ranks third in the conference in steals per game (8.7) and sixth in turnovers forced per game, averaging 14.21.
- C.J. Smith leads the conference in steals with 28. Smith also leads the Javelinas in points (230) and assists (48).
- Kavon Booker leads Texas A&M-Kingsville in rebounds (56), averaging 5.1 per game.
SERIES HISTORY
The Javelinas lead the all-time series, 4-2. In their last meeting at the Burg Center
on February 11, 2023, DBU defeated Texas A&M-Kingsville 76-60. This will be their seventh matchup since the Patriots defeated the Javelinas 72-55 on January 4, 2020.
UP NEXT
The Patriots will face Texas A&M International at the Burg Center on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
