Box Score SEGUIN, Texas – Three players scored in double figures for #25 East Texas Baptist University but a second half run by Texas Lutheran University (5-1) allowed them to steal the game away, 79-78. ETBU had a 16-point lead at the halftime but TLU shot 47 percent in the second half making 55 percent of their three-point shots to pull away with the one-point win.
Bret Atkins came away with a career-high 25 points making five three-pointers and going 9-of-15 from the floor. Junior Mitchell added 13 points and Wilbert Thomas had his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. TLU's Sterling Holmes had 17 points and eight rebounds.
ETBU shot 45 percent in the first half taking a 47-31 lead at the half. ETBU led the entire way starting out the game with an 11-1 run. TLU came back to within one, 24-23, with 6:36 left in the half. ETBU finished on a 24-7 run in the last six minutes for the 16-point lead.
In the second half, kept their distance until the final 10 minutes. TLU cut the lead to six, 59-53, and then was within three, 61-58, with 9:11 remaining. The game was tied at 66 with 6:34 left on a TLU three-point shot but a Thomas lay up and Atkins three-pointer put ETBU back in front 71-66 with 5:15 left. A the 3:16 mark, TLU tied the game at 74 on two free throws but Atkins made another three-pointer just -under three minutes to play to retake the lead, 77-74. TLU tied the game up with a three-pointer with 2:05 left and then took a two-point lead, 79-77, on a jump shot with 50 seconds left to play. ETBU made one of two free throws with 38 seconds left to pull within one but then a last second shot with one second left missed the mark as ETBU fell for the first time this year.
Overall, ETBU shot 42 percent overall and made 40 percent from the arc and 73 percent from the free throw line (14-of-19). TLU finished shooting 36 percent from the floor and arc and was 21-of-26 from the foul line for 80 percent. Both teams had 45 rebounds and ETBU had 10 turnovers forcing seven turnovers.
ETBU will be home on December 3rd at 7:30 p.m. hosting McMurry University.
