MARSHALL, Texas – Winning an ugly battle in Ornelas Gym, East Texas Baptist University had an offensive surge in the final 10 minutes of the game for a 50-46 win over Sul Ross State University. ETBU outscored the Lobos, 17-7, in the last 10 minutes overcoming a six-point deficit to improve to 6-7 on the year.
 
Jayden Williams was the only player scoring in double figures with 13 points in the low scoring game. Darry Moore gave eight points and nine rebounds while Ryan Elzy had nine points. Kurt Labeaud added nine rebounds and Kody Alexander had four blocked shots. Tyler Jackson led SRSU with 14 points.
 
ETBU made only 27 percent from the floor and three-point area and went 8-of-17 from the free throw line (47 percent). SRSU finished shooting 43 percent overall, made just one three-pointer (14 percent – 1-of-7), and was 5-of-12 from the line (41 percent). ETBU won the rebounding game, 42-33, and forced 17 turnovers with five blocks and seven steals. They scored 16 points off turnovers, had 24 points in the paint and 16 second chance points.
 
SRSU started the game with a six-point lead, 10-4, just five minutes in. The Lobos kept the lead at six, 12-6, at 13:03, and had a five-point lead, 14-9, with just 10:23 left in the half. In the next eight minutes, ETBU went on an 11-5 run for a one-point lead, 20-19, with 5:37 on the clock. Moore hit a jumper for the first lead in the game. At the 3:11 mark, SRSU took a two-point lead, 22-20, but ETBU finished the final three minutes on a 6-0 run for the 26-22 lead at the half. Michael Roberts scored four of the six points with two free throws and a jumper as Jaden Conner made it 26-22 with seven seconds left on a fast break jumper off an Alexander block.
 
ETBU pushed their lead to nine points, 31-22, just over two minutes into the second half on a Christian Dews layup. ETBU scored just two points over the next seven minutes as SRSU went on a 17-2 run to take a six-point lead, 39-33, with 10:22 remaining. Returning the favor, ETBU finished the game on a 17-7 run for the win. SRSU was up by four, 41-37, with 7:48 to play as ETBU went on an 11-4 run in five minutes for a three-point lead, 48-45. Williams canned a three-pointer at 2:15 to break a 45-all tie. SRSU had the lead to two, 48-46, with 1:47 left but ETBU held onto the ball for the next minute and 13 seconds. Moore was fouled with 31 seconds left as he made one-of-two free throws for a three-point lead, 49-46. SRSU followed with a missed shot with 17 seconds left as Elzy made one-of-two free throws with 16 seconds left for the four-point win, 50-46.
 
ETBU will host Howard Payne University on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in American Southwest Conference play.