MARSHALL, Texas – Down four points at halftime, East Texas Baptist University's offense took off in the second half for 57 points as they cruised by Howard Payne University, 89-72, in American Southwest Conference men's basketball. ETBU shot 60 percent in the second half making five three-pointers. They are now 7-7 overall and 3-3 in the ASC.
 
Earning his fifth double-double of the year, Darry Moore led the way with 25 points and 15 rebounds. Michael Roberts posted a career-high 17 points with seven rebounds and four assists shooting 7-of-9 from the field. Ryan Elzy gave 10 points and seven rebounds with three assists and two blocks. Hudson Johnson finished with 21 points for HPU.
 
ETBU had a great day of shooting making 50 percent of their shots. They also connected on seven three-pointers for 33 percent and went 10-of-15 at the line (66 percent). HPU shot just 39 percent and 31 percent from the arc but made 70 percent from the foul line (19-of-27). ETBU dominated the rebounds, 47-29, and forced 13 turnovers with three blocks for 18 points. They also took over the paint with 52 points.
 
HPU held strong in the first half with a four-point lead at the half, 36-32. ETBU started out on an 8-2 run for a six-point lead with a layup from Moore. At 11:14, ETBU continued their lead by five points, 15-10, on a Kody Alexander layup. HPU tied the game at 15 with 9:59 to go but a three-pointer by Roberts and an Elzy layup put the lead back to five, 20-15, with 8:48 left. Moore made it a six-point lead, 30-24, on a fast break dunk with 4:23 on the clock but HPU finished the half on a 14-2 run for the four-point lead, 36-32.
 
The lead for HPU moved to five points, 41-36, just over two minutes into the second half. HPU kept their lead at three, 46-43, at the 16:08 mark but in the next three minutes ETBU responded with a 12-2 run for a seven-point lead, 55-48 on a Roberts and-1 play. Moore started the run and then a Jayden Williams three-pointer put ETBU up, 48-46, at 15:27. A Christian Dews dunk at 15:03 made it a four-point lead as Williams and Roberts scored the next two buckets for ETBU. HPU was within five, 57-52, at 12:03 but ETBU went on a 10-0 run in just over a minute. Moore once again started the run and then made two free throws while Joshua R Davis made back-to-back three-pointers for the 15-point lead, 67-52. By the 8:28 mark, ETBU had a 20-point lead, 75-55, on a Moore layup. HPU come within 14 points, three times, with the final time at 2:49 left, 84-70. Elzy put the lead to 18 points on a layup, 88-70, with 1:51 to go. Moore hit one-of-two free throws with 46 seconds left making it 89-70 before HPU hit two free throws at 37 seconds for the 89-72 final.

ETBU will travel to Richardson, Texas, on Thursday, January 11, to face Texas Dallas in ASC play at 7:30 p.m.