ABILENE, Texas - Riding out a storm that took the entire second half, it was free throws by
Landin Brown that ultimately gave the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team the 85-81 triumph over the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys. ETBU has a six-game winning streak now as their record goes to 9-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Four players for ETBU had double digits in the game as both
Robby Dooley and
Darrice Whitley each had 19 points while Brown and
Westin Riddick collected 12 points each. Brown also led the team with five assists while Whitley was also the team's leader in rebounds with nine. HSU had five players in double-figures as Keenan Holdman (18 points), Keilyn Nance (17 points), Caleb Spoon (17 points), Joe Hoeup (14 points), and C.J. Rice (11 points) led the Cowboys.
ETBU did convert 45.5% from the field, which was better than the 40% made by HSU. The Cowboys won the three-pointer battle (42.9%-38.5%), and free throw battles (80%-75%). ETBU did outrebound HSU 46-38 and also grabbed 12 second chance points while HSU had five.
ETBU started the game off with a 6-2 run (20:00-16:33) that featured four points by
Jordan Gosey (17:56, 16:33). Five straight points by HSU (14:37-14:12) gave them a 7-6 lead. Each team then traded baskets until the score was tied at 13 with 12:33 to go. That was when ETBU suddenly caught fire as they would outscore the Cowboys 19-4 (11:45-7:13) to lead 32-17. Whitley would score eight points, including back-to-back three pointers (11:45, 11:01) and a fastbreak dunk (7:59).
Gavin Sabo added four points (10:30, 9:54) while
Nathan Fontenot made an NBA-like three at 7:13. Free throws by Nance (6:39) stopped the run for only sixteen seconds as a 32-19 lead escalated to 37-19 thanks to five points by Dooley (6:23, 5:44). HSU would cut the lead as close as fifteen at 40-25 (3:39) and 42-27 (2:41) . But the hot-shooting Tigers never let off the gas pedal as they would finish the half with a 7-2 run that saw their lead to to twenty points at 49-29.
The second half would see a reversal of roles as HSU started off with ten straight points (20:00-17:12) to trail 49-39 before ETBU got their first basket on a three by Brown (16:38) to lead 52-39. HSU would crack single-digits when a layup by Holdman at 15:37 made it 52-43. ETBU would then have their only strong run of the half as they went on a 10-2 run (15:37-12:47) to lead 62-46. Yet, HSU would strike again with a 13-2 run (12:34-8:04) that saw them trail 64-59. The two teams then exchanged points (6:36-2:30), which ended up with HSU cutting the lead to 72-69. ETBU then answered with eight straight points combined by Dooley and Brown (2:25-0:47) to lead 80-69. But just when it appeared the game was over, HSU had one final trick up their sleeves. After a three-point play by HSU (0:44) was answered by free throws from Whitley (0:20) to make it 82-72, Hoeup hit a three seven seconds later to make it 82-75. Brown made one of two from the line (:13) to lead 83-75. However, back-to-back three's by Hoeup and Spoon in ten seconds took the game to 83-81 with three seconds left. But in the end, Brown was fouled and sunk both free throws to ice the win at 85-81.
ETBU will battle with McMurry this Saturday at 4:00 PM.
