ALPINE, Texas – Coming down to the final seconds of the game competing for the American Southwest Conference Tournament Championship, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team came up short in their bid for the title as they fell, 82-79, to LeTourneau University. ETBU is currently 21-7 overall and will wait to see if they will qualify for the NCAA tournament. Robby Dooley and Christopher Haynes also were both named to the ASC All-Tournament team.
 
Haynes guided ETBU's offense with 21 points and eight rebounds while Dooley collected a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jaden Conner and Jacob Owens each would score double-figures as well with 11 and 10 points respectively. Nate West scored 36 points to lead the Yellow Jackets.  

ETBU would outshoot LETU (46.5%-40.6%) from the field. LETU, though, would finish with more three-pointers (8-6) and a higher free throw percentage (72.0%-50.0%). ETBU outrebounded the Yellow Jackets, 46-40, and would finishing dishing more assists (12-7), score more bench points (52-38) and have more second chance points (11-4).  

The first half started with an exchange of points as LETU would take a 10-8 lead. ETBU would respond with eight straight points to gout up by six, 16-10, with Conner and Haynes combining for 14 points. LETU would cut the lead down to 20-17 (8:03) before a run of six straight points on three-point plays by Dooley and Riddick gave the Tigers their largest lead of the game at 26-17. Up eight points (35-27) with 3:58 to play, ETBU struggled to slow down a 12-4 run by LETU that wound up tying the game at 39 at halftime.  

Tied at 45 early in the second half, ETBU would take command with a 15-8 run (15:40-10:20) that featured six points from Bush off the bench as the Tigers led 60-53. Unfazed, the Yellow Jackets rallied for seven straight points to tie the score before retaking the lead, 68-67 (6:08). Both sides would exchange leads until it was tied at 77 with two minutes to play. LETU would take a four-point lead on a jumper before knocking down a pair of free throws. Haynes cut the lead to two points with 13 seconds to play, 81-79. ETBU then had another chance to tie the game only to commit a turnover with seconds left. LETU would sink a free throw and the Tigers' last desperation play to tie the game ended with a LETU steal.  
 
ETBU came into the tournament ranked 8^th in the latest South Regional Rankings. ETBU did defeat the #4 team in Texas Dallas and has two wins over the Comets this year. ETBU will find out on Monday morning at 11:30 a.m. if they will receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament.