MARSHALL, Texas - Trailing by 11 points with three minutes to go, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team fell short of a comeback win to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 75-73. ETBU is now 5-3 on the year as they enter American Southwest Conference play this upcoming week.  

Three players scored in double-figures as Aaron Gregg led with 13 points followed by Landin Brown (12 points) and Jaden Conner (11 points). Brown also led ETBU in rebounding with nine and had five steals while Gregg finished with six assists. For UMHB, Josiah Johnson scored 38 points while both Aedan Welch and Sam Reeves had seven rebounds apiece.

UMHB was on fire shooting 53.3% from the field. This included 40% made from three-point range and 76.0% from free throw line. The Tigers made 38.5% from the field, but were plagued by 26.9% from three-point range and 66.7% from free throw range. ETBU would finish out-rebounding the Crusaders, 36-34 and had 32 points off the bench while dishing out 19 assists to UMHB's 18.

After opening the first half with a Gregg layup, the Tigers were victimized by a 12-2 run (18:12-14:35) from the Crusaders. A pair of Cochran free throws made it 15-9 (12:43) only for UMHB to catch fire. In what was a 56% field goal percentage half for UMHB, the Crusaders would connect on 14 field goals, including five three-pointers. Although ETBU would bring the lead back to single-digits at 33-25, UMHB would extend the lead to 42-29 despite four straight points from Skyler Stutts. In the final minute and a half, ETBU ran off eight straight points as Cody Hunter (1:31) and Jaden Conner (1:11-0:29) would key the surge before Gregg converted a buzzer-beater to trail 42-37 at the break.

ETBU carried their momentum into the second half scoring seven of 10 points to trail by one, 45-44 (15:00). However, the Crusaders would suddenly control the game with a 24-14 run for over the next 10 minutes led by 11 points from Johnson in this stretch. With 4:13 to go, the Tigers trailed 69-58. Then, the Tigers surged scoring 15 of the next 17 points (3:59-1:30) to take a two-point lead, 73-71. Brown would get ETBU going with six points (3:52,2:49), including a game-tying three to make it 69-69. After a pair of free-throws put the Crusaders back up by two, Jayden Williams gave ETBU their first lead since being up 2-0 with a three (1:56), 72-71. Haynes would manage one free throw (1:30) for a two-point lead, 73-71, but the Crusaders retook the lead at 74-73 on a three-pointer following Haynes' free throw. ETBU would have a chance to grab the lead with 12 seconds left but came up short in the two-point loss.

ETBU will host McMurry University at 7:30 PM this Thursday night in Ornelas Gym starting ASC play.