CLAREMONT, Calif. – Opening up the new season on the West Coast, #20 East Texas Baptist University played for the first time in California and fell to Pomona-Pitzer College, 75-59. ETBU is now 0-1 to start the year and will face the University of the Redlands on Sunday night.
Three players were in double figures as
Darry Moore produced 21 points and seven rebounds to lead the team.
Ryan Elzy added 11 points and four assists and
Michael Roberts had 10 points.
Kurt Labeaud added six steals.
ETBU shot 38.2 percent from the floor but only made 20 percent of their three-point shots and went 58 percent from the line (14-of-24). PPC made 56 percent of their shots and was 15-of-20 from the line (75 percent) and had four three pointers (28 percent). ETBU was out rebounded, 36-23, but did force 14 turnovers.
The first half was the best for ETBU as they trailed by two, 36-34, and shot 52 percent. ETBU was up by three early, 4-1, on two free throws by Joshua Davis. Seven minutes into the game, though, PPC had a four-point lead, 13-9. Over three minutes, ETBU went on a 8-2 run to take a 17-15 lead on a Davis three-pointer at the 11:14 mark. With 5:50 left, ETBU had a three-point lead on a Moore jumper and continued to have a three-point lead, 32-29, with 2:16 left. In a minute, PPC had a 5-0 run for a two-point lead, 34-32, but a Moore layup tied the game at 34 with 1:10 left. PPC scored with 39 seconds left for the two-point lead, 36-34, but ETBU turned the ball over with 28 seconds left as PPC kept the lead at the half.
ETBU was flat in the second half and PPC took advantage of that making only one three-pointer and shooting 26 percent. PPC started the half on a 16-4 run over six minutes for a 14-point lead, 52-38. ETBU never recovered from the run. At the 10:32 mark, Moore hit two free throws to bring the lead down to seven, 52-45. That is as close as they would come the rest of the way as PPC pushed the lead back to 16 points and won, 75-59.
ETBU travels to the Redlands on Sunday for an 8:00 p.m. central time game.
