MARSHALL, Texas – Five players scored in double figures as East Texas Baptist University won their second straight American Southwest Conference game, 83-71, over Howard Payne University. ETBU is now 4-6 and 2-3 in the ASC.
 
Jayden Williams led ETBU with 18 points hitting five three-pointers with four assists. Aaron Gregg added 15 points and four assists while both Charlie Cochran and Chris Haynes had 14 points. Kevin Charles came off the bench giving 11 points with six rebounds making 5-of-7 from the floor. Jaylan Ballou had 19 points for HPU.
 
ETBU had one of their best shooting games of the year hitting 51% of their shots from the floor and 42% from the three-point line while making 73% from the stripe. HPU shot 38% overall making only 25% from the arc and 80% at free throws. ETBU forced 19 turnovers and out rebounded HPU, 39-28.
 
Haynes and Cochran combined on a layup and three-pointer to start the game for a 5-0 lead over HPU. HPU came back to take a one-point lead with a three-point play, 11-10, with 13:50 left. The game was then tied at 12 when HPU went on a 5-0 run for the 17-12 lead. At the 10:25 mark, HPU pushed their lead to six, 21-15, on a free throw. In the next six minutes, ETBU went on a 15-5 run for a 30-26 lead. Cochran made a three-pointer for the four-point lead (4:23). It was Williams who put ETBU back in front in the run with a three-pointer (5:53), 24-21, and then he made it 27-23 with 5:25 to go. HPU then tied the game at 30 (1:43) but ETBU finished on a 7-2 run for a five-point lead at the half, 37-32. Williams nailed another three-pointer with nine seconds left for the five-point lead.
 
ETBU ran out in front again to start the second half for a seven-point lead, 44-37, and then Haynes pushed the lead to eight, 47-39, with a three-pointer (15:42). HPU cut the lead to five, 47-42, less than a minute later but ETBU had a 7-0 run for a 12-point lead, 54-42, on two free throws by Gregg. HPU came within 10 points, 54-44, with a layup (12:38) as that is as close as they would come the rest of the game. In the next five minutes, ETBU had another run, 13-4, for a 19-point lead, 67-48. That run put the game away for ETBU. HPU brought the lead back down to 11, 76-65, with 1:58 left but ETBU kept their distance for the 83-71 win.
 
ETBU will travel to Richardson, Texas, for an ASC game vs. Texas Dallas on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.