BELTON, Texas – Facing off against the top team from the American Southwest Conference West Division, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team couldn't prevent a surge by the #10 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders late in the second half as they fell, 86-81, on the road. ETBU is now 12-7 overall and 6-4 in the ASC East.

Logan Blow recorded a career high 30 points including a perfect 10-for-10 at the line while Jayden Williams had 16 points. Chris Haynes tallied 12 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double. UMHB was led by 23 points from Josiah Johnson while Carson Hammond (18 points), Ty Prince (15 points), Aedan Welch (13 points), and Gibson Hearne (10 points) tallied double figures.

UMHB finished outshooting ETBU in both field goal (50.9%-47.0%) and three-point shooting (41.7%-35.0%). ETBU was a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line all game long to finish at 100%. They also took the battle of the paint outscoring the Crusaders, 44-38.

ETBU would be plagued by a poor start trailing 13-4 (14:20) in the first five minutes of the game. However, ETBU's big three of Haynes (13:56, 11:27), Charlie Cochran (12:00) and Kevin Charles (10:43) brought ETBU to within one point on eight straight points. ETBU would finally grab the lead at 8:25 as Blow would provide a spark scoring 14 first-half points. But that lead would be short-lived as UMHB retook it at 6:08 and never gave it back up. UMHB would manage a five-point lead at the half, 37-32, and their 47% from the field to 41% from ETBU would prove to be the biggest difference in the game.

The Tigers would come out of the second half on fire as Williams would convert three from downtown while Haynes added four points and Cochran (16:21) contributed a field goal. With that run, ETBU started the half with 15 straight points and a 47-40 lead. Williams would add five more points to push the Tigers to a 52-42 lead with 14:31 left to go. The game would then change as UMHB scored 11 straight points to grab the lead, 53-52 (11:09). After both teams would stay tight, Aaron Gregg's three gave ETBU a 57-55 lead. That would be the last time ETBU would have the lead as UMHB took control from then on. Despite an inspired second half from Blow, who finished with 16 points in the half, ETBU could only manage to get within 69-66 (5:28) as they were unable to keep UMHB from continuing their strong scoring surge. UMHB would lead 80-70 with two minutes to go but a late Tiger rally was all for naught as they would come up short, 86-81.

ETBU will continue their road trip next weekend when they travel to Jackson, Miss., to take on Belhaven University on Thursday at 7:30 PM.