TULSA, Okla. — A big run late in the first half proved to be the difference, as the Newman men's basketball team hung with Dallas Baptist after the break, but couldn't close the gap in a 82-67 loss in the Heartland Conference quarterfinals Thursday at the Union Multipurpose Activities Center.

While it was the final game for three Jet seniors, who all reached double figures in scoring, it was also the final game on the bench for Newman coach Mark Potter, who is retiring after 19 seasons leading the Jets.

KEY SEQUENCE

The Jets (9-19) shot ahead in an even first 15 minutes, going up 24-19 after a Taylor Schieber 3-pointer and Daniel Nwosu Jr. free throws. The top-seeded Patriots (20-9) responded with a hard charge though, ripping off the next 17 points to take a 36-24 run, and would not lead by fewer than 10 the rest of the way.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-A 3-pointer from Nwosu got things moving after a slow start and gave the Jets a 6-2 lead just 3:30 in. Newman held on to that lead until a pair of free throws from the Patriots made it 9-8 two minutes later.

-Still trailing as another minute ran off the clock, freshmen Allen Wilson and Jacob Birnbaum each drilled two free throws to bump the Jets back out to a 12-11 advantage at the 12-minute mark. A basket by Daniel Green, who was able to get his offense going early pushed the Jets ahead once again at 16-14 at the midway point of the half.

-Nwosu hit another trey to stretch the lead to five at 19-14, but DBU responded to tie it up. Schieber and Nwosu made it another five-point margin with 5:46 left in the half, but the Patriots responded with their big run to close out the half.

-A 9-3 run from Newman was started by a Damien Akao 3-pointer, and saw another bucket from Green, getting the Jets as close as they would get in the second half, down 50-40 with 14:08 on the clock. The Patriot lead only grew as large as 20 once, but the regular season co-champions managed to answer any Newman make with one of their own.

LEADERS

Newman
Points: Taylor Schieber 15. Rebounds: Daniel Green 11. Assists: Kevin Bryant 3. Steals: Schieber, Green, Damien Akao 1. Blocks: Bryant, Jacob Birnbaum 2.

Dallas Baptist
Points: Patrick Burke 19. Rebounds: Burke 9. Assists: Julian Miranda 8. Steals: Carter Brown 3. Blocks: Brown, Boy Van Vliet 1.

NOTES

-The three seniors on the Jet roster — Schieber, Nwosu and Green — each hit double figures, led by Schieber's 15. Nwosu closed his career with 10 points, while Green put up his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting.