MARSHALL, Texas – Battling to the end, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team couldn't stop a late run from the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys as they fell, 83-76, in American Southwest Conference play. ETBU is now 6-6 overall and 4-2 in the ASC East Division.
 
Robby Dooley posted a game-high 27 points while sharing a team-high six rebounds along with Jordan Gray. Chris Haynes (15 points) and Westin Riddick (11 points) also scored in double-figures. Gray led ETBU in steals with four. For HSU, Chris Barrett (19 points), Jalen Terry (14 points), Steven Quinn (12 points), Joe Hoeup (11 points), and Keenan Holdman (11 points) tallied double-figures in scoring.
 
HSU outshot ETBU 45.7%-40.6% from the field, which included an edge in three pointers made (31.8%-26.9%). ETBU would manage a higher shooting percentage from the free throw line (92.9%-66.7%) and outrebounded the Cowboys 43-40.
Both teams started the game with a pair of baskets before three's from Riddick (15:50) and Dooley (15:21) would push ETBU ahead 10-6. After HSU responded with a 6-2 run (14:57-14:07), which tied the game at 12, ETBU managed to grab a 7-3 run (13:36-10:59) with a Riddick three that put the Tigers up 19-15. But the game then changed as the Cowboys ran off 12 straight points (10:05-7:01) to grab a 27-19 margin. ETBU would manage to bring the margin down to three points at 5:28 (27-24) and 3:25 (29-26) only to have the Cowboys respond with a surge of six straight points to push the lead to 35-26 (2:06). ETBU would cut the deficit down to 39-33 by halftime.
 
After conceding an early HSU basket (18:40), ETBU ran off nine of the next eleven points (18:33-17:19) as Dooley contributed six points to come within one, 43-42. The pattern would continue several times starting with HSU running off eight unanswered (16:43-15:38) to see the lead up nine points at 51-42. ETBU answered to get within one point at 56-55 (11:27) thanks to a 13-5 surge led by six points from Jarrell Taylor. With 5:46 left, ETBU cut the lead to three, 66-63, following a three from Nathan Fontenot. An 8-2 Cowboy run (5:30-3:33) made it 74-65, but ETBU slowly chipped at the deficit as Dooley (3:16), Riddick (2:46), and Haynes (2:08) contributed to make the score 76-72. Following a HSU layup (1:53), ETBU scored the next two buckets from Dooley (1:44) and Haynes (1:21) to come within two, 78-76. A turnover by HSU provided a chance for ETBU to go ahead, but couldn't find the basket as HSU came up with the stop. With time on the shot clock dwindling, the Cowboys made a three with twelve seconds to go up 81-76. Another two HSU points etched the final score to 83-76.
 
ETBU stays at home in Ornelas Gym on Tuesday, Jan. 8, hosting ASC East Division foe LeTourneau University at 7:30 PM.