THE RUNDOWN
The No. 4 Patriots saw their 11-game win streak come to an end at the hands of ASU in a hard-fought battle that saw DBU struggle to regain their momentum in the second half. Despite strong performances from Ricky Lujan, who led the team with 15 points, and Xavion Brown, who added 10, the Patriots were unable to overcome the Rams' late-game push.Â
The Patriots faced a slow start against the Rams, who opened the game with a 7-0 run. The Patriots didn't score until Jaden Shelvin hit a free throw in the 18th minute. Jackson McCabe followed up with a layup, and Xavion Brown cut the deficit to two with a pair of free throws, making it 7-5. After some back-and-forth play, Trevor Frank tied it at 10 with a layup off an ASU turnover at 15:47. AJ Borden then gave DBU their first lead, and with contributions from Ricky Lujan and Frank, the Patriots built a four-point advantage.
DBU continued to build momentum, forcing eight turnovers and capitalizing on a scoring drought from the Rams, extending their lead to eight, 23-15, with 10 minutes left. ASU responded by cutting the deficit to just two points by the 8:37 mark. The two teams then went through a defensive battle, struggling to score for over three minutes. With both teams exchanging leads late, Cameron Kahn tied the game at 31 with a layup, and Brown gave DBU a brief advantage with a dunk. However, ASU closed out the half with a 34-33 lead.
DBU came out of the break with confidence, as Drew Calderon knocked down a three-pointer to give the Patriots a 39-36 lead early in the second half. ASU quickly tied the game, but Lujan's tip-in layup kept the Patriots ahead. Issac Bullard then came up big, converting a three-point play to extend DBU's lead to 46-41. As the game wore on, the Rams began to close the gap, cutting the deficit to just one point. Tension mounted as ASU went on an eight-point run, capturing the lead as the game neared the under-12 timeout.
A scoring drought followed, with both teams struggling to find the basket for over two minutes. Brown then broke the silence with a clutch layup to give DBU a brief three-point lead, but ASU responded quickly to tie the game again. The Rams then pushed ahead, extending their lead to seven, 62-55, with three minutes left on the clock. As time ran down, DBU fought valiantly to make a comeback, with Brown delivering a dunk and Lujan hitting a crucial three-pointer to cut the deficit to five. However, despite the Patriots' best efforts, ASU was able to hold on, securing the 68-61 victory as DBU came up just short.
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Xavion Brown led the team with eight rebounds and three steals, while Ricky Lujan topped the team with five assists.
- Tonight's matchup was a back-and-forth battle with eight ties and 10 lead changes.
- DBU produced 36 points in the paint compared to ASU's 28.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2- Ricky Lujan (15) and
Xavion Brown (10) were the two Patriots to finish in double figures.
18- The Patriots forced 18 turnovers from the Rams.Â
-8- The Patriots' rebound differential across the entire contest (43-51).
DBU HEAD COACH BLAKE FLICKNER POST-GAME COMMENTS
"It was a disappointing loss today, and the credit needs to go to Angelo State. They played desperate and hungry. Bottom line, they looked like the hungrier team that wanted it more. However, this is a good opportunity to learn and regroup. We're getting closer to March and it's time for big boy basketball. We have a saying on the court and it applies to every possession, but also to each game and ultimately to life. 'Next play.' Right now, we're going to need to make the next play and come back and try and be better tomorrow than we were today. If we trust the process and continue to focus on playing hard, smart, and together, then we'll learn and grow along the way."
UP NEXT
The Patriots travel to Odessa, Texas, for their last road game of the season. They duel with UT Permian Basin on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
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