TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler battled tightly with #12 DBU throughout the night, but the Patriots would ultimately pull away in the second half for a 72-62 win on Thursday night.
Dontrell Hewlett and
Akok Machar each scored 18 points and
Sam Phipps added in 12 more on the night to lead the scoring for the Patriots. As a team, the Patriots shot 40% from the floor and 33% from beyond the arc as they kept the game close throughout.
UT Tyler struck first on the night, as Hewlett knocked down a three pointer to start a 7-3 run for the Patriots to open up the game. DBU would eventually take the lead at 11-9, but the Patriots defense proved to be stout, as they held DBU to just 4-for-14 from the floor during the 8:11 stretch.
That lead would not stay long for DBU, as the Patriots answered with a 12-4 run that saw five different Patriots score in just 3:50 of gametime that was capped off by a thunderous slam from
Sam Phipps off the pass from
Jesse Fuller.
That run was later tacked on to by four straight made free throws as UT Tyler took a 26-25 lead into the halftime break. They held DBU to just 31% shooting in that first half and 1-for-14 from beyond the arc in a dominant display on defense.
Both teams traded blows to open up the second half, with
Sam Phipps accounting for four points in the opening two minutes. DBU would get a layup at the 17:48 mark of the period to take the lead and would use that to spark a 27-6 run over 8:25 of gametime to put the Patriots out of reach.
UT Tyler would eventually cut the lead down to 17 points with just over three minutes to go, and they got late action from
Lathan Wigington,
Ryan Swan, and Machar as the trio each buried a three pointer in the closing minutes. Machar would make his just before the final buzzer, ultimately leading to the 72-62 final score.
Jesse Fuller posted team-highs in both rebounds (8) and blocks (4).
Khalik Gardner added a team high three assists and Phipps would add on three steals.
The Patriots now set their sights on a long road trip next week as they take on Sul Ross State and Western New Mexico to round out their 2024 campaign.
