Alpine, Texas- Unable to be contained down the stretch, Darrice "Poncho" Whitley erupted in the final minutes for the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team en route to the 86-82 win over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. With the first round victory, ETBU will advance to the second round of the American Southwest Conference Tournament. The Tigers will take on LeTourneau University in the semi-finals on Friday at 5:00 p.m.

Whitley led ETBU, tallying a career-high 32 points to go along with nine rebounds. Landin Brown chipped in yet another double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Robby Dooley added 13 points and eight rebounds in the victory.

UMHB's LaKendric Hyson scored the opening bucket of the contest, knocking down a midrange jump shot to bring the score to 2-0 in the opening minute. Dooley responded with a power move inside the paint to even the game at 2-2 on the ensuing possession. Brown would find his way to the basket, scoring on a layup to give ETBU the 4-2 advantage at 16:52 mark of the half. Two jumpers by Jordan Gosey and Whitley gave the Tigers the early 8-2 lead, heading to the first timeout of the contest at the 15:25 mark.

The Cru would cut the lead to two on a 7-3 run, until a three pointer by Brown pushed the score to 14-9 over the next three minutes of play. UMHB continued to climb back, using a 10-2 run to go on top 19-16 with 7:46 to go until halftime. UMHB led by five (38-33) in the final minute of the half, when a layup by Dooley on the breakaway narrowed the deficit to three (38-35). Both teams went into the locker room with UMHB on top 40-35.

In the first 20 minutes, the Tigers shot just 31 percent (15-of-48) from the field and 9.1 percent (1-of-11) from beyond the arc. UMHB shot 46.7 percent from the floor (14-of-30) and connected on 3-of-7 shooting (42.9%) from the three point line.

Whitley opened the second half scoring ETBU's first eight points, but the Tigers still trail by six (49-43) at 16:43 mark of the contest. Westin Riddick joined the scoring run by knocking down a three pointer off the feed from Brown to narrow the deficit at three (49-46) over the next minute. The Cru would push the lead to five until another shot from deep by Riddick brings ETBU to within two, at 53-51 with 14:17 to go in the ballgame.

UMHB continued to hold the lead over the next ten minutes of the game, increasing the deficit to as many as nine (80-71) with 3:22 left on the game clock. The Tigers would respond with a 9-1 scoring run sparked by a layup, plus the foul by Gosey and seven straight points by Whitley to bring the score to 81-80 in the final 1:02. Whitley put ETBU on top 82-81 on a left-handed bank shot with just 38 seconds to play in the ballgame.

Both Whitley and Dooley sealed the deal at the free throw line, scoring four consecutive points en route to the 86-82 ASC Tournament win.

UMHB ends the season with a record 17-9 overall. Both Hyson and Demarius Cress led the Cru with 20 points each.

ETBU will match up with LeTourneau University on Friday, Feb. 23. The game is set to tip-off at 5:00 p.m.