LONGVIEW, Texas – For the third time in five games, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball battled an opponent deep into the overtime session. Unlike their previous two times, this one ended with a 76-68 loss at the hands of the LeTourneau University Yellow Jackets. ETBU is currently 12-12 overall and 8-7 in the American Southwest Conference East Division.
 
Chris Haynes led ETBU with 19 points while both Nathan Fontenot and Jordan Gray each had 15 points. Gray also led the Tigers with six assists while Jacob Owens-Bush finished with seven rebounds for ETBU. LETU was led by 32 points from Nate West while Justin Moore (15 points) and Caleb Loggins (10 points) each had double figures of their own.
 
ETBU managed to outrebound LETU 42-34 while making 41.4% of their field goals to the Yellow Jackets' 34.3%. They also scored 28 points in the paint and score six points off the bench while holding LETU scoreless in that area. But it came down to LETU's three-point shooting in which they made 14 three's and capitalized with 32 points off ETBU turnovers.  
 
ETBU started off the game with a 6-3 run (20:00-17:23). Haynes (19:30, 17:56) picked up ETBU's first four points. This was extended to a 19-7 ETBU lead with a 13-4 Tiger run (16:26-7:27) as Westin Riddick (13:46, 12:39) helped in the run while Spencer Cochran (7:27) connected on a three ball. LETU managed six straight points (6:58-6:10) only for ETBU to counter with five unanswered (5:51-5:23) as the Tigers went up 24-13. The Yellow Jackets refused to back down as they would get back with a 14-3 surge (5:02-0:38) to knot the score at 27 all. However, Gray gave the Tigers a two-point edge with a jumper going into the break as the Tigers led 29-27.
 
The Tigers kicked off the second half with a 9-2 run (20:00-17:02) as Fontenot (18:21, 17:02) picked up four points while Riddick (17:38) knocked down a trey for a 38-29 Tiger edge. Yet again, LETU ran off a 13-3 surge (16:43-11:22) to lead 42-41. The lead changed between the teams for the next five minutes as LETU led 49-48 following a media timeout.  ETBU retook the lead at 54-53 with a pair of Haynes free throws (3:02) only for LETU to answer with five straight points to lead 58-54 with 1:47 left to play. Gray cut the deficit to one at 58-57 with a three while Haynes then knotted the score at 58-58 before the Yellow Jackets failed to get the last shot and the game went into overtime.
 
Haynes (3:24, 2:54) would answer a pair of LETU three-pointers with a pair of layups to cut the deficit to 64-62 in overtime. The Yellow Jackets, though, would pull away finishing the session with a 12-6 run to end the contest 76-68.
 
ETBU will host their regular season finale at 3:00 PM on Saturday at Ornelas Gymnasium against the University of Texas Dallas.