ABILENE, Texas – Coming up short with a comeback run in the second half, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball couldn't get past the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys, 82-75. ETBU now sits at 4-2 on the season.

Chris Haynes led the Tigers with 21 points while Landin Brown posted a career-high 20 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double. Aaron Gregg and Logan Blow also reached double-figures with 12 and 10 points respectively. Kyle Brennon scored 19 points to lead HSU while Steven Quinn (11 points) and Neal Chambliss (10 points) reached double-digits.

The Cowboys outshot ETBU in all offensive categories including field goals (46.8%-43.9%), three-point field goals (33.3%-22.2%) and free throws (77.5%-61.8%). HSU also won the rebounding battle 35-29 and had 26 points coming from their bench while ETBU had 16 points.

Each team would trade buckets with ETBU going on a 5-0 run (17:48-17:11) that saw a three by Haynes (17:11). The score was 15-13 in ETBU's favor with 13:08 left to go in the half when the Cowboys suddenly caught fire. A 10-0 run by HSU (12:36-9:24) put them up by eight, 23-15. This would culminate in a 24-7 surge that saw the Cowboys go up 37-22 with under three minutes to play. The Tigers did claw back to cut the score to 42-34 with Blow converting a buzzer-beater to end the first half.

The Tigers would begin the second half with momentum in their favor with an 8-2 run (19:42-17:49) to cut the lead to 44-42. Yet, HSU would once again build a nine point lead at 62-53 (11:11), on an 18-9 run. Again, it was a strong run that got ETBU to within one, 64-63, with 7:04 to play. Unfortunately, the Tigers were unable to get past HSU as they kept hitting the big shots and increased their lead to 75-68 with 3:52 to play. Brown would score four of the next six points for the Tigers to trail by one. The Cowboys would then seal the victory with seven of the final eight points for the win.
 
ETBU will continue a road trip next week as they head to Huntingdon University in Alabama.