MARSHALL, Texas – A late second-half run by East Texas Baptist University was shy of victory as Hardin-Simmons University held off the Tigers, 80-75. ETBU had a one-point lead with 1:27 left, 75-73, but HSU's defense and free throws edged the Tigers. ETBU is now 4-13 and 0-1 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
Jason Justice hit four three-pointers and went 11-of-18 from the floor for a career-high 32 points. Michael Roberts had his fourth double-double of the year, grabbing a career-high 17 rebounds with 10 points. Nikolas added 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Joshua R Davis had 12 points.
 
ETBU shot 47 percent from the floor, 46 percent from the arc, and 75 percent from the line. HSU hit 43 percent of its shots, made only three three-pointers (37 percent), but went 27-of-38 from the foul line (71 percent). HSU also outrebounded ETBU 35-31.
 
The two teams played close the entire game, as HSU had a seven-point lead in the first half. ETBU opened with a 4-0 lead on two buckets from Justice in the first 1:20. HSU rebounded and by 12:27 had a seven-point lead, 14-7. ETBU chipped away at the lead, coming with one, 18-17, at 9:21 on a Morin layup. Over a minute later, HSU pushed the lead back to six, 23-17, on a 5-0 run. ETBU fought back with a 9-0 run over two and half minutes for a three-point lead from a bucket by Colin Roberts (5:44). HSU retook the lead by three, 29-26, at 4:01 and then neither team could make a basket for almost three minutes. Morin brought the lead down to two, 31-29, with 57 seconds left, but HSU took a four-point lead into the half, 33-29.
 
It was a shooting spree in the second half as HSU shot 53 percent from the floor, and ETBU made 60 percent of their shots with six three-pointers (85 percent). HSU opened the first six minutes on a 15-7 run for a 12-point lead, 48-36. At 12:47, they had a 14-point lead, 51-37. They kept their double-digit lead at 12 points, 56-44, with 11:17 to go. By 8:39, ETBU was within five points, 58-53, on a JT Curry and-1, but HSU had the lead back to nine points, 62-53, at 7:44. In a two-minute time span, ETBU answered on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 64. Justice started the run with a three-pointer as Davis added four points and Colin Roberts tied the game on a layup. With the game tied at 66, HSU scored five straight points, making it 71-66 with 3:43 left to play. Justice followed with a jumper, and Davis tied it at 71 as 2:47 showed on the clock. After HSU made two free throws for a two-point advantage, 73-71, Justice gave ETBU their first lead since the 5:07 mark in the first half on a three-pointer with 2:08 to go. He then made one-of-two free throws at the 1:27 mark for a two-point lead, 75-73. After HSU tied the game at 75 with 1:05 left, ETBU turned the ball over and fouled HSU. They made both free throws to retake the lead, 77-75, and then ETBU missed a jumper to tie the game with 37 seconds left. HSU then made one of two free throws at the 19-second mark for a three-point lead. Another ETBU turnover just seconds later gave the ball back to HSU as they scored quickly for the five-point lead and 11 seconds to go. A last-second shot by ETBU wasn't close as HSU held off the late ETBU comeback.
 
ETBU will host Howard Payne University on Saturday, January 18, at 3:00 p.m in Ornelas Gym.