MARSHALL, Texas – In a great NCAA Division III atmosphere, East Texas Baptist University couldn't stop LeTourneau University's three-point shooting in the second half as they fell in Ornelas Gym, 81-75. ETBU is now 9-9 overall and 7-6 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
Aaron Gregg led the way with 22 points and six rebounds. Darry Moore recorded 17 points while Chris Haynes had 12 points and Kevin Charles 11 points. LETU had three players score over 20 points as both Andrew Eberhard and Deonte Jackson each had 24 points. ETBU was out rebounded, 30-26, but forced 17 turnovers with 11 steals. ETBU finished shooting 45% from the floor, 21% from the arc, and 76% from the line. LETU shot 62%, made 60% from the three-point line, and 76% from the free throw line.
 
It was all ETBU in the first half taking a 10-point lead at the half, 39-29. Jayden Williams made it a seven-point lead, 11-4, just four minutes into the game. By the 13:49 mark, ETBU had an 11-point lead, 18-7, on a Charles layup. LETU came within seven points, 22-15, at the 11:30 mark but ETBU pushed it back up to 14 points, 29-15, on a Gregg three-pointer with 10:02 left. Jaden Conner then gave ETBU a 15-point lead, 33-18, with 8:21 left as the largest lead in the game. LETU slowly came back and cut the lead to six, 35-29, on an 11-2 run with 2:35 left. Charlie Cochran then made a layup with 47 seconds left for the 10-point lead at the half.
 
ETBU had an 11-point lead, 44-33, at the 18:52 mark but it was down to six points, 49-43, just three minutes later. With 12:57 left to play, ETBU had a nine-point lead, 55-46, on a Gregg layup. Over the next seven minutes, LETU went on a 21-6 run for a six-point lead, 67-61, with 6:42 remaining. They never lost the lead again. ETBU cut the lead to two, 77-75, with 24 seconds left but LETU made their free throws to take the game away from the Tigers.
 
ETBU will host Texas Dallas on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Ornelas Gym.