CLARKSVILLE, Arkansas – Unable to counter the hot play of the University of the Ozarks, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team fell, 95-83, at Mabee Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. ETBU is now 9-10 overall and 6-5 in the American Southwest Conference East Division.
 
ETBU had four players in double-figures with Robby Dooley leading the way with a game-high 28 points, including an 8-of-8 performance from the free-throw line. Christopher Haynes and Jordan Gray both finished with 13 points, followed by Spencer Cochran who added 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting from three. Haynes led the Tigers with six rebounds. UO was led by Ethan Bowman who finished with 17 points. Cordy Winston and Deon Blakemoreeach collected 12 points.
 
The Eagles shot 48.2% from the field to ETBU's 46.6%. This also included a 40.4% night from three-point range and 73.8% from the free throw line. ETBU would make 27.3% from the three-point line and 92.0% from the free throw line.
 
Picking up the team's first six points (19:04, 17:57, 16:59), Dooley and the Tigers jumped out to an early 6-5 lead. UO would lead 9-8 before a Cochran three (14:44) and a free throw by Zach Elliott (13:22) gave ETBU a 12-9 edge. The Eagles' run of nine straight points (12:51-10:50) was countered by a 9-3 run (10:36-7:39) to tie the contest at 21. It stayed tied until UO went on a 11-2 run (4:11-1:18) to go up 40-31. ETBU would manage just to get within 41-35 (0:39) before the Eagles knocked down a three to lead 44-35 at the half.
 
The second half would see the teams trade ten points apiece (20:00-15:46) for a UO control of 54-45. The Eagles then seized momentum as seven unanswered points (15:13-14:07) gave them a sixteen-point lead at 61-45. Much of the half saw ETBU struggle to get within single digits as they could only produce a 13-7 run (13:47-8:34) to trail 68-58 with Haynes scoring eight points in the stretch. UO's lead grew to 72-58 (7:43) before a recurring pattern occurred. ETBU brought the game down to 72-65 (4:50) only to see the Eagles extend the lead to 77-65 (3:43).  ETBU managed to get as close as 79-73 on a three-pointer from Nathan Fontenot (2:39) but the Eagles would keep control as they would hold off a few single-digit deficits from the Tigers to win 95-83.
 
The Tigers return home to Ornelas Gym as they host The University of the Ozarks this Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 P.M.