MARSHALL, Texas – The winter is not yet in Texas but for the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team it was a cold night shooting as the University of St. Thomas – Houston held down the Tigers, 64-54, in the season opener. ETBU shot just 29% from the floor, 15% from the arc, and 63% from the free throw line in the game.
Darry Moore posted a double-double in his debut with 17 points and 17 rebounds while
Aaron Gregg added 10 points.
Charlie Cochran recorded eight points and seven rebounds. UST had three players in double figures as Christian Alaekwe led with 13 points. UST shot 33% from the floor, 23% from the three-point line (50% in the second half), and 70% from the line. ETBU did outrebound UST, 44-41, but turned the ball over 18 times.
ETBU trailed in the first half by as many as eight points, 22-14 (7:58), playing from behind after
Chris Haynes made two free throws to start the game. With 3:07 to go in the half, ETBU was down seven points, 26-19, as they kicked the offense into gear.
Ryan Elzy started the 12-2 run with a three-pointer and Moore excited the crowd with the first dunk of the year pulling within two, 26-24, at the 2:15 mark.
FIRST DUNK OF THE GAME
A three-pointer by Cochran gave ETBU their first lead since it was 2-0 to begin the game, 28-26, with just under a minute to go. UST tied the game at 28 but Gregg nailed a three-pointer with 20 seconds left for the three-point half time lead, 31-28.
The second half was a different story as ETBU made just five shots the entire half and no three-pointers. They shot 25% from the floor and were 13-of-20 from the foul line. ETBU held the lead for the first four minutes of the second half, 37-32, with 16:14 left. Over the next four minutes, UST went on a 15-4 run to take a 47-41 lead. ETBU came within four points, twice, but UST built an 11-point lead by the 2:27 mark, 61-50, eventually taking the game, 64-54.
ETBU will next play on Saturday, November 20, in Jackson, Miss., against Centenary University in the Millsaps College Classic.
PICS OF THE GAME
STAT OF THE GAME
- Newcomer Darry Moore went 6-of-9 from the floor in his first game with 17 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.
GAME NOTES
- Aaron Gregg recorded his 13th game at ETBU with 10+ points in a game.
- Chris Haynes ties his career high with four blocks in a game last doing it vs. Sul Ross State on Jan. 18, 2020. He now has 62 career blocks.
- The last time ETBU didn't make a three-pointer in a half was on March 6, 2021, at Louisiana College going 0-for-6
UP NEXT
ETBU will go east to Mississippi for two games in the Millsaps College Classic facing Centenary on Saturday. They will either play Huntington (AL) or Millsaps on Sunday depending on the outcome on Saturday.
