San Antonio, Tex. – The Regis University men's basketball team opened their season with an 86-85 nail biting victory over St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas on Friday night.

How It Happened: Junior Christian Little knocked-down the first Regis bucket of the 2018-19 season with a layup in the paint, tying the game at two apiece. With 17:46 on the first half clock, senior Ryan Beisty sunk a three-pointer to give the Rangers their first lead of the game, 7-5.

RU stretched their lead to as many as eight points with an 8-0 run sparked by a shot from beyond the arch by senior Jarrett Brodbeck. St. Mary's answered with a 12-0 run of their own, tilting the momentum into their favor and claiming a 24-19 advantage with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

In the last 10 minutes of the half, Regis managed a 15- point turn around to take a 10-point lead. Sophomore Brain Dawson nailed a three-pointer to put the Rangers ahead 44-34 with seven seconds to play in the first half. The Rattlers ended the half with back-to-back made free-throws, sending the game into halftime with a 44-36 score line.

A 6-0 St. Mary's run made brought the Rattlers within one, 50-49, with 15 minutes left in the game. Brodbeck was able to end the run with a jumper from inside the paint. He then scored five-straight points later in the half to pull the momentum into the hands of RU, helping them to a 78-68 advantage with 3:21 on the clock.

The Rattlers didn't back down as they managed a 7-0 run in the last minute of play to take their first lead of the half, 85-84, with just 15 second left to play.

Regis called a timeout to draw-up the game-winning play in the last 15 seconds. With just four second until the final buzzer sounded, Brodbeck got the last look at the hoop, He sank a jump shot that proved to be the dagger in an 86-85 nail-biting win over the Rattlers.

Game Notes: The Rangers shot 47.5 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three-point range. Brodbeck (8-15, 3-6 3PT) led the team with 23 points. Little (5-14, 0-1 3PT), junior Roberto Vercellino (5-5, 1-1 3PT), Beisty (3-4, 1-2 3PT), and junior Taffy Tela (2-5, 2-4 3PT) all recorded double-digit scoring.

RU won the rebounding battle 35-34. Beisty had a team high of eight with five coming on the defensive end of the court. Regis had just eight turnovers on the game and caused ten.

Up Next for the Rangers: The Regis University men's basketball team will conclude the Heartland-RMAC Chanllenge with a game against Lubbock Christian University, tomorrow, November 10 at 4 p.m.