LONGVIEW, Texas – A heartbreaking final three seconds took place at Solheim Arena as the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team lost to LeTourneau University on a half court, buzzer beating shot, 71-70. ETBU is now 2-6 and 0-3 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
Four players scored in double figures as Chris Haynes finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists on 7-of-9 shooting. He now has 998 career points in his four-year career. Both Kevin Charles and Aaron Gregg added 14 points while Jayden Williams had 10 points. Charles also added eight rebounds while Charlie Cochran had seven rebounds. Deonte Jackson led LETU with 16 points.
 
ETBU out rebounded LETU, 37-25, and had six steals forcing 15 turnovers. Combined, both teams shot 12 free throws as ETBU went 3-of-7 and LETU was 3-of-5. Overall, ETBU shot 50% from the floor and 43% from the arc while LETU made 51% and was 8-of-16 (50%) from the arc. Both teams also scored 42 points in the paint.
 
With 11 seconds to go, Williams gave ETBU a 70-68 lead on a layup. LETU took the ball down the court and drove in but lost the ball giving it back to ETBU with five seconds left. ETBU was fouled with three seconds left and went to the free throw line but missed as LETU grabbed the rebound pushed it up court to just past mid court shooting a long three-point, buzzer beater shot for the win.
 
Entering the second half, ETBU was down by 13 points, 47-34, just 30 seconds in. LETU continued to keep a double-digit lead through the first five minutes with a 12-point lead, 56-44 (14:50). Over the next seven minutes, ETBU outscored LETU, 18-4, for a two-point lead, 62-60, with 7:23 left. Gregg had seven points and Charles six points in the run as Charles put ETBU in front on a layup. The game was tied three more times in the final four minutes with the last one at 68 before Williams put ETBU in front, 70-68.
 
LETU was in control of the first half extending their lead to 18 points. They jumped out to a 5-0 lead and didn't look back. ETBU came within 10 points, 37-27, on a Ryan Elzy layup with 1:23 left in the period before Williams hit a three-pointer to pull within 11, 43-32, at the half.
 
ETBU will host Sul Ross State and Howard Payne University next weekend on Thursday and Saturday.