SHREVEPORT, La. – It took a 19-10 run in the last eight minutes of the game for East Texas Baptist University to pull out a 72-61 victory over Centenary College (0-2). With 8:33 left to play in the game, Centenary pulled within two points, 53-51, after being down 20 earlier in the half only to see ETBU score the next nine points on three-straight three-pointers to take away Centenary's momentum. ETBU never let the lead dip below 11 points after a 13-0 run and finished up with their second victory of the year.

Three players were in double figures for ETBU as Bret Atkins led the way with a career-high 16 points adding nine rebounds and four assists. Junior Mitchell went 6-of-7 from the floor for 12 points and four assists while Dylan Augustine hit four three-pointers on six attempts finishing with 14 points. Jamil Samuel led the team with 13 rebounds along with seven points and three blocks. Centenary's Travion Kirkendoll led all scorers with 20 points while Kendall Demouchet had 17 points.

Starting off the second half with an 18-point lead, Atkins gave ETBU a 21-point lead, 41-20, just over two minutes in on a three-pointer. ETBU kept their distance for the next five minutes and had a 17-point lead with 13:37 left when Mitchell took a fast break up the court and banked it in making it 48-31. It was in the next five minutes that Centenary made their run.

Centenary posted a 17-2 run in that five minutes to pull within two points, 50-48. Augustine answered with his first of three-straight three-pointers that would shift the momentum back to ETBU. Centenary, though wouldn't give up. After Augustine's first three-pointer, they fought back with their own trey to come within two points, again, 53-51 (8:33). At the 7:55 mark, Centenary missed a three-pointer that would have given them the lead and ETBU flexed their three-point shooting muscle going on the 13-0 run making three straight three-pointers, two by Augustine and one by Atkins, and then layups by Isaiah Thomas and Mitchell. That run put ETBU back in front comfortably, 66-51, with 2:33 left to play. Centenary couldn't overcome the run that ETBU had and fell to the Tigers.

In the first half, ETBU shot 45 percent and made 14 shots from the floor. They held Centenary to just 21 percent shooting. It took three minutes before either team scored to start the game when ETBU's Eric Horton canned a three-pointer at the 17:04 mark. ETBU went out to a 7-2 lead before the game was tied at nine with 10:58 left in the half. ETBU ended the last 10 minutes of the half on a 27-9 run for the 18-point halftime lead.

Overall, ETBU shot 45 percent but made only 50 percent of their free throws and 34 percent of their three-point shots. They turned the ball over 26 times as Centenary capitalized and scored 24 points on those turnovers. Centenary had just 16 turnovers that turned into 10 points for ETBU. Centenary shot 33 percent overall, 23 percent from the arc, and 76 percent from the stripe. ETBU grabbed 50 rebounds to Centenary's 34.

ETBU will next be in action on Friday, November 27^th, vs. Schreiner University in the Texas Lutheran Classic in Seguin, Texas, after Thanksgiving.