MARSHALL, Texas- Using a 55 point second half, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team defeated the Louisiana College Wildcats 91-79 in Ornelas Gymnasium. With the victory, ETBU moves to 13-3 overall and 7-2 in American Southwest Conference games this season.

As a team, ETBU shot 52.8 percent (28-of-53) from the field and a blistering 14-of-27 (51.9%) from the three point line. Robby Dooley led all scorers on the night with 20 points on an efficient 7-of-9 (77.7%) from the field. Darrice Whitley added 17 points in 33 minutes of action, while Nathan Fontenot chipped in 16 points on 4-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. Jordan Gosey notched 13 points and eight rebounds in the win. Devon Washington led LC with 19 points and nine rebounds.  

The Wildcats landed the first blow to start the ballgame, going on a 9-2 run with all nine points scored by Lashard Powell in the first four minutes of play. Whitley responded by knocking down back-to-back three pointers from deep in the corner to narrow the score to 9-8 at the 14:51 mark of the contest. Carson McKnight joined the three point barrage, knocking down a shot from the wing to put the Tigers on top 11-9 over the next two minutes of the half.

With 7:30 to play till the half, ETBU trailed LC 20-18 when Whitley would connect on yet another shot from distance to put the home team on top 21-20. A reverse layup by Dooley in the final minutes of the half put ETBU up by five points (32-27) at the 2:05 mark. Despite outscoring the Tigers 8-4, ETBU held onto a one point lead, at 36-35, heading into the locker room.

Dooley opened up the second half with on a personal 6-0 run to put ETBU on top 42-40 in the first two minutes of the half. The Wildcats regained the lead, 45-44 at the 15:56 mark until a three pointer by Westin Riddick put the Tigers on top by a field goal, 47-45.

ETBU would eventually push the lead to ten points after a runner in the paint by Davis Robinson with 9:37 to play in the contest. Another driving layup by Dooley gave ETBU its largest lead of the game (81-68) in the final two minutes of action. The Tigers went on to win 91-79 on Thursday night.

Head Coach Brandon Curran talked about his team being able to grind out a victory at home on Thursday evening.

"Louisiana College made it really tough for us, but we were able to grind it out. It's really a testament to our guys and the level of talent that the Lord has blessed them with. It was a great win for us," Curran said.

ETBU will travel to Jackson, Miss. To take on Belhaven University on Saturday, Jan. 20. The game is set to tip-off at 4:00 p.m.