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Scoreboard

Isaiah Matthews
Antonio Morano Photography
Isaiah Matthews drives to the basket against Lubbock Christian.
63
Lubbock Christian LCU 15-11, 12-7
66
Winner St. Mary's (TX) STMU 17-9, 14-5
Lubbock Christian LCU
15-11, 12-7
63
Final
66
St. Mary's (TX) STMU
17-9, 14-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Lubbock Christian LCU 30 33 63
St. Mary's (TX) STMU 24 42 66

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | RattlerAthletics.com

Rattlers secure at least share of Heartland regular-season title

By Chad Peters and Robin Johnson | St. Mary's Athletics

SAN ANTONIO — St. Mary's could be cutting down the nets in the regular season for the first time since 2005.
 
The Rattlers' men's basketball team clinched at least a share of the Heartland Conference regular-season championship with Thursday's 66-63 victory over Lubbock Christian, a heavyweight bout that also earned StMU the right to host next week's Heartland Conference Tournament at Bill Greehey Arena.
 
The Rattlers (17-9, 14-5 Heartland Conference) will go for earning the regular-season title outright when they host Oklahoma Panhandle State at 3 p.m. Saturday on Senior Day at Greehey Arena.
 
Marvin Binney sank two free throws with 15 seconds remaining to give St. Mary's a three-point lead, and Justin Alexander contested two shots underneath the basket in the waning seconds to help the Rattlers prevail.
 
Thursday's pivotal victory saw four Rattlers take turns in playing the leading role, as Isaiah Matthews (RS-Sr., Texas City, Texas), Binney (Sr., Toronto, Ontario), Bryce Smith (RS-Jr., Corpus Christi,Texas) and Alexander (Sr., San Antonio) all scored in double digits. Matthews led the way with 16 points, while Binney had 15 to go along with a team-high seven rebounds. Smith scored 14 and Alexander chipped in 11 points.
 
Matthews and Smith provided big sparks in the first half and Matthews led a six-point charge to start the final frame, cutting down the Chaps' 30-24 lead at the break.
 
The Rattlers soon took over the lead with 11:28 remaining and continued to maintain the edge, outscoring the Chaps 42-33 in the final frame.
 
Binney was as clutch as ever from the line, sinking two with 15 seconds remaining in the game to clinch it.
 
For the game, Binney went an impressive 12 for 14 at the line while fellow guard Smith went 3 for 3 from beyond the arc.
 
By earning at least a share of the title, St. Mary's can call itself Heartland Conference regular-season champions for the first time since the 2004-05 season — a rather remarkable feat when considering the success the program has enjoyed under head coach Jim Zeleznak, who has led St. Mary's to three consecutive regional-tournament appearances and a pair of Heartland postseason championships over the last three years.
 
St. Mary's last hosted the Heartland Conference tournament following the 2010-11 season, the final year of a two-year arrangement that saw St. Mary's Bill Greehey Arena chosen as a predetermined site for the tournament.
 
The Heartland Tournament will run March 6-7 at Greehey Arena. Game times have yet to be announced. Tickets will be available for purchase online at StMUtickets.com.
 
The Rattlers play their final game of the regular season on Senior Day at 3 p.m. Saturday against Oklahoma Panhandle State inside Greehey Arena.
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