THE RUNDOWN
The No. 6 ranked DBU Patriots defeated the St. Edward's Hilltoppers 85-74, extending their win streak to eight games. After a back-and-forth first half, DBU took control in the second, with key plays from multiple players. Ricky Lujan's three-pointer and a strong run helped the Patriots build a double-digit lead, while Cameron Kahn reached a milestone, hitting a jumper to score his 2,000th career point. Despite a late push from SEU, DBU held strong to secure the victory and keep their momentum rolling.
Ricky Lujan opened the scoring with a three-pointer, giving DBU the early lead, but SEU quickly responded with a seven-point run to go up 7-3. Drew Calderon hit a three to bring DBU within one, and Cameron Kahn helped the Patriots regain the lead with two free throws, making it 10-9. The Hilltoppers took advantage of DBU's foul trouble to briefly regain their footing, but AJ Borden forced a turnover, leading to Lujan closing the deficit. Justin Haire then capitalized on an and-one opportunity to give DBU the go-ahead at 18-16 with 12:15 left in the half.
The Patriots pushed their lead to seven points, 28-21, thanks to contributions from JR Goodlet and Haire. But SEU responded with a six-point run, cutting the DBU lead to one. A back-and-forth battle ensued with 12 lead changes and seven ties, highlighted by a dunk from Haire. As the clock wound down, Goodlet's free throws looked like they might tie it up, but Trevor Frank hit a last-second jumper to give the Patriots a 43-41 lead going into the second half.
The Patriots came out of the break with a vengeance, setting the tone early in the second half. Jaden Shelvin and Borden sparked a 6-point run that quickly gave DBU an eight-point lead at 49-41. By the time the under-16 media timeout rolled around, the Patriots maintained a comfortable lead, but SEU was closing the gap little by little.
DBU then made their move, extending their lead to 64-52 after a Lujan three-pointer capped off a 9-2 run. Both teams tightened up defensively, leading to a two-minute scoring drought as the intensity built. The Patriots stayed dominant in the paint, reaching an 18-point lead at 76-58 with 6:41 left on the clock. SEU fought back, pushing DBU into a field goal drought, but the Patriots held firm. In a memorable moment, Cameron Kahn hit a jumper that pushed him to 2,000 career points, marking a huge milestone. With the Hilltoppers unable to mount a final comeback, DBU cruised to an 85-74 victory, extending their win streak to eight games.
FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Cameron Kahn hit 2,000 career points tonight, solidifying his place in the program's history.
- The bench made a significant impact, contributing 37 points to the team's effort.
- Tonight's matchup was a back-and-forth battle with 12 lead changes and 7 ties.
- With tonight's win, the 2024-2025 Patriots pass the 2023-2024 squad for the best record in program history through 24 games (21-3). The Patriots are now four wins away from matching the 2017-18 team for the most wins (26 in a season).Â
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
3- Three Patriots finished in double figures, including
Ricky Lujan (20),
Cameron Kahn (16), and
Justin Haire (12).
8- Cameron Kahn led DBU with a team-high 8 rebounds.Â
22- The Patriots forced 22 turnovers from the Hilltoppers.Â
45- DBU produced 45 points in the paint compared to SEU's 18.
DBU HEAD COACH BLAKE FLICKNER POST-GAME COMMENTS
"Tonight's game was a big-time gritty win on the road. We were a little careless with the ball tonight, but I credit St. Edwards for being a big part of that too. The bench again was the difference tonight, and we were able to flip the script and get more points in the paint and points off turnovers in the second half."
UP NEXT
DBU goes to San Antonio for a duel with the LSC leader, No. 25 St. Mary's. The game begins on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
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