ABILENE, Texas – Letting the game slip away in the final two minutes, East Texas Baptist University fell to American Southwest Conference leading Hardin-Simmons University, 70-66. ETBU is now 8-9 and 4-5 in the ASC.
 
Darry Moore and Jaden Conner recorded double-doubles for ETBU. Moore finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds as Conner had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Kurt Labeaud added 12 points and five assists and Ryan Elzy gave 11 points. Will Bartoszek led HSU with 20 points.
 
ETBU shot 43 percent from the floor, 27 percent (3-of-11) from the arc, and 65 percent (17-of-26) from the line. HSU made only one three-pointer (10 percent) and shot just 38 percent from the floor and 65 percent in free throws. ETBU won the rebounding game, 42-40.
 
Overcoming an 11-point deficit in the second half, ETBU took a 66-62 lead with 2:17 left in the game on a Conner layup. That is the last bucket scored by ETBU as HSU finished on an 8-0 run in the last two minutes. HSU converted a three-point play with two minutes to go to cut the lead to one, 66-65. ETBU missed a jumper at 1:42 and then fouled at 1:24 as HSU tied the game at 66 making one-of-two free throws. After ETBU missed a three-pointer with 53 seconds left, HSU was fouled for an and-1 but missed the free throw for a two-point lead, 68-66. ETBU grabbed the missed free throw and took a time out with 28 seconds left. With 13 seconds left, they had a layup blocked and then turned the ball over after getting the rebound. HSU was fouled with 11 seconds left and made both free throws for the four-point lead and win.
 
ETBU was down 18 points in the first half, 28-10, with 7:20 to go and outscored HSU, 19-18, in that time to pull within 11 at the half, 40-29.
 
ETBU will travel over to McMurry University in Abilene on Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. start.