WICHITA, Kan. — Looking to make an impact heading into the conference tournament, the Newman men's basketball team lost a tough game to Dallas Baptist 74-62 Saturday in its regular season finale at Fugate Gymnasium.
KEY SEQUENCE
The Jets (14-13, 10-6 Heartland) were looking at a six-point deficit with three minutes left and were looking to cut the deficit as the game came to a close. The Patriots (23-4, 12-4 Heartland) would get a three-pointer from Chandler Jones giving them a nine-point lead, and later Jones would hit two free throws giving the Patriots a 12-point lead and later the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-In the first half, the Jets were looking at a nine-point deficit with 4:30 left. After Tyjil Hereford hit a 3-pointer, Newman was now down by six and would continue to cut into the Patriot lead, cutting it to three going into halftime.
-Newman would come out firing in the second half, beginning the period with a 3-pointer from Ben Ayre to tie the game at 29. Both teams would go back and forth at the beginning of the second half, and the Jets would counter each score from Dallas Baptist for the majority of the half.
-Going into the latter part of the half, the Patriots would get some stops on defense, and later they were able to get their offense moving again. With some clutch 3s from both teams, Dallas Baptist would get free throws late, pushing their lead to double digits, and after two free throws from Jones, the Patriots would get the victory over the Jets to wrap up the regular season.
NOTES
-Seniors Kevin Bryant and Andre Sands both had solid finishes in their last games at Fugate Gymnasium. Sands finished with 10 points and four rebounds, wile Bryant finished with 14 points and four rebounds.
-Newman finishes the season alone in third place in the conference standings, after being picked eighth in the league's preseason poll.
-The win clinched a share of the conference title for the Patriots, as well as the top seed next weekend at the Heartland Conference tournament.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets transition to postseason play, and will kick off win-or-go-home play at 5 p.m. Friday against sixth-seeded St. Edward's at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
