ABILENE, Texas - Making a huge comeback in the second half overcoming 19-point lead, East Texas Baptist University returns home undefeated in the American Southwest Conference Men's Basketball with an 80-77 win over Hardin-Simmons University. ETBU is now 5-1 overall and 2-0 in ASC 
 
"Number one, great win against a really good program, and a really good team. I'm very proud of these guys," said head coach Chris Lovell. "We came out a little flat sometimes." … "So at halftime I told them, I said 'hey, you win with your defense.' And so we give up 48 points in the first half, second half we only give up 29. That's why we won the game. Because these guys and believed in each other, and believed in me."
 
Four Tigers led the team with double digits as Darry Moore recorded 30 points, shooting 13-of-17, and six rebounds. Following was Kevin Charles with 12 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Ryan Elzy had 10 points and six rebounds while Aaron Gregg had 11 points and four assists. ETBU shot 49% overall, 36% from beyond the arc, and 85% on the line. 
 
ETBU started the game trailing, 6-2, with the first points from Jaden Conner. The Cowboys then extended their lead to nine, 11-2. ETBU was quick to react with a shot in the paint by Gregg for the second points of the game, 11-4. Elzy came in with two layups to pull ETBU to within seven, 15-8. The score stayed on both sides of the court with shots by Moore and Gregg being retaliated by HSU, 21-12. HSU had another short run before a three-pointer by Charles from Martin McDowell lowered the lead, to 11, 28-17. Elzy and Moore gave the Tigers two-points each with shots inside the arc to make it 40-25 trailing by 15. Moore scored the last points of the half with a jump shot from outside the paint, 48-31, trailing by 17 at the half.
 
Making a huge comeback, the Tigers allowed only 29 points in the second half shooting 66% for three-pointers, and 55% overall this half. Coming in strong, Moore had two shots from inside the arc, lowering the Cowboy lead back to 15, 50-35. McDowell making waves in the second half, with a three-point jump shot, 51-39. HSU answered with a shot from inside the arc, but Moore was on fire with back-to-back shots from the paint, as ETBU pulled to within 10, 53-43. Charles brought the Tigers four points with a steal and shot from inside the paint, followed by two free throws, as it came to an eight point lead, 55-47. Continuing to close the gap, Moore had a jumper outside the paint, followed by McDowell with a layup, as ETBU was now within four points, 55-51, with 11:55 left in the game.
 
Following a media time out, HSU attempted to maintain their lead with a layup, but Moore came through only seven second later with jump shot from Jayden Williams. Williams brought a shot from outside the paint, followed by a steal that he passed to Moore, lowering the Cowboys' lead to one point on a dunk, 58-57. HSU made free throws, but that did not stop McDowell from tying the game at 60 with a second chance three-pointer. HSU regained the lead, 64-60, but not for long, as shots on the line by Williams would tie the game once again, at 64. ETBU took the lead just below five minutes left in the game with a three-pointer by Gregg, 67-66. Both teams kept the game tight, with shots by Moore on free throws to tie it at 76, and then a jumper by Gregg with 10 seconds left made it a two-point lead, 78-76. A missed free throw by HSU allowed the Tigers to keep their lead, 78-77, and two shots on the line by Moore gave ETBU a three-point lead and another win in Abilene, 80-77. 
 
The Tigers will play on Thursday, December 8 at 7:30 pm against Concordia Texas in Ornelas Gym.