MARSHALL, Texas – After picking up two home wins against the University of Texas Tyler Patriots and the University of Ozarks Eagles, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team will travel to Clarksville, Arkansas and Tyler, Texas this week to take on the same teams again.

Last week, ETBU got an 80-79 win over UTT that was won a buzzer-beater by Westin Riddick, who posted a team-high 25 points. Jordan Gosey was one rebound shy of a double-double to go along with 16 points. Two days later, ETBU used a dominant first half to cruise to a 91-71 victory over UO. Riddick once again led ETBU with 15 points while Landin Brown added 13 points of his own.

ETBU head men's basketball coach Brandon Curran was pleased with how well his team played during the week and was also impressed with the crowd in their support for the team. "It was such an incredible game," said Coach Curran. "Just an incredible crowd for both games. You really appreciate the faculty, staff, students, and fans from around Marshall coming out and supporting our guys. You guys made a huge difference to see the gym erupt when Westin Riddick hit that huge three in the end there at the end of the game. He was just on fire. But I just thought our guys did such a good of keeping poise and continuing to attack there, make big plays, and make the big play in the end."

These two wins keep ETBU tied for first place in the ASC East at 16-3 overall and 10-2 in conference play. As a team, ETBU is scoring 90 points per game while giving up 82.9. Robby Dooley still has the team lead in scoring with 16.4 while Gosey is still ETBU's leading rebounder averaging 7.3 rebounds per game. Brown is still ETBU's leading assist-maker with 96 total.

With ETBU's first game against UO, they'll face an Eagles team that is now 3-16 overall and 1-11 in conference play. Zach Bobo continues to lead UO in scoring with 12.3 ppg. Dylan Gray is second with 11.5 ppg, but leads UP in rebounding by averaging 6.5 rpg.

ETBU will follow up with a Patriots team that suffered a 101-78 loss to LeTourneau. UTT (13-6, 6-6) is now averaging 87.9 ppg while holding opponents to 81.7 ppg. Emeka Obukwelu saw his scoring average drop to 19.6 ppg since the last meeting, but still leads UTT in scoring and rebounding (8.4 rpg). Josh Tatum maintains the assist lead with 106 total.

For Coach Curran, the challenge of playing the same team two times in a row will be a challenge ETBU will have to adjust to in a hurry. "Number one, it's really hard," said Coach Curran." You got a lot of respect for the guys in the NBA that have to do that like in the NBA Playoffs where you have to play a team at home. You then have to go right down and play them on the road. They of course got to play a whole series. We just play two games. It's nice from a scouting perspective in that you got a pretty good feel for personnel and what they like to do and try to do. It gives our assistant coaches a little bit of a break with that. But mostly, it comes down to respecting your opponent and giving them your very, very best every time you're on the floor."

ETBU will play UO this Thursday at 7:30 PM and UTT this Saturday at 4:00 PM.