DALLAS – A late push by the host DBU Patriots gave them an 81-71 victory over St. Mary's Men's Basketball on Thursday night.
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The Rattlers (6-6, 3-4 LSC) went without a field goal over the final 4:19 after taking a 66-65 lead with 6:22 on the clock. The teams went back-and-forth throughout the game until the final four-plus minutes.
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Junior
Tyler Caron (Longview, Texas) scored over 20 points for the third time this season and the second-straight game, leading all players with 22. Junior
Zach Shugars (Ingomar, Miss.), getting his timing back after missing six games, scored in double figures for the first time in the Gold & Blue jersey with 12 points on four three-pointers and senior
Caleb Jordan (Midlothian, Texas) chipped in 11.
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Junior guard
Jalon Johnson (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) led the Rattlers in both rebounding and assists with five and four, respectively. Senior
Emmanuel Ewuzie (San Antonio) continued his block party with three, while fellow senior
Mamady Djikine (Paris, France) added two.
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Ewuzie now has 75 blocked shots in his career, which is fourth in school history and his 1.75 blocks per game this season would shatter the school record of 1.42 by Erik Coleman from 2013-14 if he continues his pace.
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The Rattlers shot 92.9 percent from the free throw line, making 13 of 14 attempts, which ties for the eighth-best single game performance in StMU history. The Rattlers also shot 92.9 percent at Rogers State on Jan. 18, 2018. The team made its first 13 on the night before, shockingly, Caron missed one with 57 seconds left. Caron had made 27 straight, including four in the game before the shot rimmed out.
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StMU held a 37-32 lead at halftime as Caron and Shugars combined for 20 of the 37 points and four three-pointers.
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The Rattlers play their second-straight opponent with the Patriots mascot as they face UT Tyler on Saturday at 3 p.m. or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game. UTT withheld a second-half comeback from St. Edward's to win 75-71 on Thursday evening.
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