MARSHALL, Texas – Shooting 56 percent, East Texas Baptist University held off Howard Payne University, 108-101, for their first American Southwest Conference win of the year. ETBU was up one, 98-97, with 1:30 to go, went four-of-four from the foul line, and made all three shots from the floor to secure the win. The Tigers are now 5-13 and 1-1 in the ASC.
Jason Justice went 9-of-17 from the floor for 26 points, adding six rebounds, four steals, and six assists.
Colin Roberts recorded a double-double with a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Joshua R Davis had 21 points, making three three-pointers, and had five rebounds and four assists.
Michael Roberts was shy of a triple-double with 15 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
ETBU shot 56 percent, made 35 percent of their three-pointers, and was 26-of-36 from the line (72 percent). HPU made 39 percent of their shots, 31 percent from the arc, and went 34-of-44 from the foul line (77 percent). The two teams had 57 fouls and 80 free throws taken. ETBU outrebounded HPU 52-29 but had 29 turnovers.
Scoring 60 points and shooting 41 percent from the arc, ETBU had a 24-point lead in the first half.
Colin Roberts had a layup at 16:46 for a six-point lead, 8-2. HPU battled back and took a one-point lead, 13-12, at 14:02. In seven minutes, ETBU went on a 23-3 run for a 21-point lead, 36-15.
Michael Roberts had nine of the 23 points in the run.
Colin Roberts gave ETBU the 24-point lead, 42-21, at 5:39 on a free throw. HPU cut the lead back into the teens and, by half time, was down 16, 60-44.
HPU scored 57 points in the second half, but ETBU shot 58 percent from the floor to hold on for the win.
Mason Williams gave ETBU an 18-point lead, 73-55, at 14:11, and
Colin Roberts hit a free throw at 13:55 for a 17-point lead, 75-58. By 11:06, HPU had the lead down to seven, 80-73, on a 15-5 run.
JT Curry put ETBU's lead back at 12 points, 90-78, at 7:03, and
Colin Roberts' fast break layup at 5:59 put the lead at 13, 92-79. ETBU had a 12-point lead, 97-85, with 3:06 to go on a Justice layup on a fast break. In a minute and a half, HPU went on a 12-1 run, cutting the lead to one. Four seconds later, at 1:22, HPU stole the ball but missed an open layup that would have given the Yellowjackets the lead.
Colin Roberts grabbed the rebound, and then Justice was fouled six seconds later. Justice went four-of-four in the last 1:6 from the line and made a bucket.
Colin Roberts and Davis added layups as ETBU won 108-101.
ETBU travels to Belton, Texas, on Thursday, January 23, to face Mary Hardin-Baylor at 7:30 p.m.
