THE RUNDOWN
No. 4 DBU jumped back into the win column with a 74-71 win over Lubbock Christian on Saturday afternoon at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock, Texas. Coming down to the final seconds, the Patriots outlasted the Chaps to secure their 16th win of the season.
The Patriots jumped out to a 13-6 lead on a Trevor Frank three-pointer, capping a 13-3 run. DBU maintained a sizable advantage until LCU opened a 9-0 run, tying the the score with 7:28 left in the half. A Ta'Jay Dunlap layup stopped the Chaps' offensive surge, but it would become a back-and-forth affair as LCU trimmed the lead to one on multiple occasions. The Chaps would look to convert after a set of free throws, but a Dunlap layup made it a three-point game into intermission.
Entering the second half, an LCU dunk would give the Chaps their first lead of the half. An Austin Garner layup would snatch the lead back for the Patriots before LCU opened a 9-2 run three minutes into the second half to take the lead right back.
Both teams would go back-and-forth in a constant lead-change battle for the next two minutes until a pair of LCU layups extended their lead to six. Three Ricky Lujan free throws tied the game at 61 apiece and a Dunlap three-pointer allowed DBU to retake the lead by one. It would be a short-lived lead as the Chaps went back up, 69-66 with 2:53 left.
A set of Cameron Kahn free throws would help DBU retake the lead and the Patriot defense did not allow LCU to make another field goal the rest of the way. Trailing by only three points in the final seconds, the Chaps could not convert a half-court three-pointer, prohibiting LCU from forcing overtime and securing a 74-71 victory for the Patriots.
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Ta'Jay Dunlap is four steals away from cracking the top 10 most steals in program history.
- The Patriots held Lubbock Christians' leading scorer, Tiras Morton, to nine points.
- Four players from DBU scored double figures, including Cameron Kahn (16), Ta'Jay Dunlap (14), Austin Garner (12), and Ricky Lujan (10).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
7 - The Patriots had a season-low of turnovers.
9 - DBU
forced over 20 turnovers for the ninth time this season.
13 - Today's contest had 13 lead changes and was tied seven times.
DBU HEAD COACH BLAKE FLICKNER ON THE PATRIOTS' STRATEGIC PLAYS
"That was the most back-and-forth game we have had all year. What a great experience for our guys to have to make those winning plays down the stretch on the road against a great time with a great crowd. Thirteen lead changes, seven ties, and about even in time with the lead, but our guys made the key plays down the stretch. I'm so proud of them."
UP NEXT
The Patriots will continue their road trip to face Oklahoma Christian next Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
