#5 DBU (16-2, 10-2) vs. Oklahoma Christian (9-10, 6-7)
February 1 | 7:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City, OK| Payne Athletic Center
MULTI-MEDIA COVERAGE
Video: LSC Digital Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter: @DBUBasketball
Facebook: DBU Athletics
COUNTDOWN TO TIP-OFF
No. 5 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.
On Thursday, the Patriots will continue their schedule in Oklahoma City, OK, against Oklahoma Christian.
PATRIOT STORYLINES
- DBU is ranked as high as No. 5 in the NABC Coaches Poll and is ranked in all three national polls.
- DBU ranks first in the LSC and ninth in the nation in steals, averaging 10.9 per game. The Patriots lead the conference and rank sixth in the nation for scoring offenses (92.8).
- Defensively, DBU ranks first in the LSC and fifth in the nation in turnovers forced per game (21.13).
- Cameron Kahn leads the conference in points (334) and field goals (132). Khan was recently named on Bevo Francis's Top 100 Watch List.
- Ricky Lujan ranks second in the conference in steals (30) and third for his assist/turnover ratio (2.60).
- Ta'Jay Dunlap also ranks second in the conference in steals (30). Dunlap is four steals away from cracking the top 10 most steals in program history.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN
- Oklahoma Christian defeated Midwestern State 62-61 Saturday in their sixth conference win.
- The Eagles rank third in the conference in defensive rebounds, averaging 26.42 per game, and fourth in rebounds, averaging 37.47 per game.
- Oklahoma Christian ranks second in the conference for their field goal percentage defense (41.9).
- Moun'Tae Edmundson leads the Eagles with 262 points, 17 steals and 40 assists.
- Quinton Johnson II leads Oklahoma Chrisitan defensively with 98 rebounds, averaging 5.2 per game.
- Hunter Staten ranks 11th in the conference and leads the Eagles in blocks (15).
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots lead the all-time series 17-8. DBU defeated Oklahoma Christian 88-71 in their last matchup at the Burg Center on January 6, 2024. This will be their 26th matchup since the Eagles beat the Patriots 66-63 on January 19, 2013.
UP NEXT
On Saturday, the Patriots will finish their road trip in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to face UAFS. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
