THE RUNDOWN
The DBU Men's Basketball team opened the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic with a 90-75  victory over Western Oregon Friday night in their season opener. The game was close early on, with full-court pressure from both teams but the Patriots were able to pull away to secure the win. 

Ricky Lujan connected on the Patriots first basket of the evening, opening the opportunity for DBU to go on a 16-0 burst.  On the defensive end of the floor, the Patriots held the Wolves without a point for over three minutes before they finally opened scoring with a layup. However, the Wolves quickly found their rhythm as they went on a 8-2 run, minimizing the Patriots lead to nine, 21-12, with 13:47 left on the clock. The two squads went back and forth for over WOU constantly pulled within single digits forcing DBU to extend their lead back each time. 

The Wolves took advantage of DBU's fouls eventually trimming the margin to three with a three pointer from Makaio Murphy making the score 35-32 with under four minutes left on the clock. Utilizing four of Trevor Franks free throws in the final two minutes the Patriots were able to pull back ahead before WOU looked to convert the lead with back to back shots by Brady Grier. Nonetheless, a Lujan jumper secured the lead in the Patriots favor ending the half 45-41. 

Entering the second half, the Wolves went on a 6-2 run to tie it up 47-47 in hopes to find their first lead of the game but layups from Lujan and Jackson McCabe kept the Patriots lead. WOU took their first lead of the game with a three pointer, forcing DBU to call their first timeout of the game with 15:47 left in the match. Western Oregon forced a scoreless drought on the Patriots until a 7-0 burst with shots from Lujan, Cameron Kahn and Cody Stevens lifted DBU back in the lead, 61-56, with 12:14 on the clock. 

The Patriots extended their lead back to double digits with a 9-1 run capped off by a Stevens three pointer. DBU's lead fluctuated between seven and 11 until a three pointer from Lujan extended the lead to 14. The Patriots increased their lead to as much as 18 as they closed out their season opener with a 90-75 victory over Western Oregon.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Patriots held the lead for 89.4% of tonight's season opener. 
- DBU produced 50 points in the paint compared to the wolves 12. 
- The Patriots scored 36 points off turnovers compared to the Wolve's 7. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
3- Three Patriots scored double figures, including Ricky Lujan (30), Cameron Kahn (14), and Jackson McCabe (12). 
7 - The Patriots  won the rebound game by 7, 52-45.
26- DBU forced 26 turnovers from WOU. 
50- The Patriots produced 50 points in the paint compared to the wolves 12. 

DBU HEAD COACH BLAKE FLICKNER POST-GAME COMMENTS
"Really gritty effort tonight by the guys. We got off to a hot start, but I have to give W Oregon credit for how they competed and battled back. I loved how we finished down the stretch. We had to deal with some foul trouble tonight, but the guys kept battling and finding ways. Ricky had a great offensive night, but there were other guys that made huge plays on the defensive end and on the glass. This has been a first class event so far and now we have to get a quick recovery in before an early morning game against a really good St Martin's team."

UP NEXT
The Patriots continue their run in the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic as they face Saint Martin's tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. 

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