LONGVIEW, Texas – An early run by LeTourneau University was too much to overcome for East Texas Baptist University as they dropped a close American Southwest Conference game on the road, 78-70. ETBU was down by as many as 18 points in the first half before cutting the lead to five at the half. The Tigers are now 6-15 and 2-2 in the ASC.
 
Jason Justice led the team in scoring with 25 points and four assists. Michael Roberts had his fifth double-double of the year with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Joshua R. Davis finished with 13 points, shooting 50 percent from the floor and having three steals.
 
ETBU hit 40 percent of their shots but made just three three-pointers (18 percent) and was only 17-of-29 from the line (58 percent). LETU shot 51 percent, hit 35 percent of their three-point shots, and made 61 percent from the foul line. LETU also outrebounded ETBU, 41-33, but ETBU forced 16 turnovers.
 
LETU scored the first six points of the game and had a nine-point lead, 13-4, at 17:08. They took a double-digit lead at 15:59, 16-6, and was up 13, 21-8, at 13:57. Justice put ETBU into double digits at 13:42 as the Tigers trailed, 21-10. With 12 minutes left, LETU made it a 15-point lead, 26-11, and by 6:56, had an 18-point lead, 38-20. ETBU's offense woke up then and went on a 19-4 run over six minutes. Davis hit a jumper with 57 seconds left to come within three, 42-39, and had nine points in the run. LETU made a shot with 30 seconds left for a five-point lead at the break, 44-39.
 
By the 15:19 mark in the second half, LETU moved their lead back to double digits, 54-43. They kept their distance as ETBU was only within six, 62-56, at 8:48 and put the lead back to 10 at 6:20, 66-56. By the 3:16 mark, ETBU was within four, 69-65, on a 9-3 run as Davis had a steal and layup. ETBU missed an opportunity to cut the lead in half at 2:30 on a three-pointer that didn't make it. Mason Williams hit one free throw at 1:43 to put ETBU within four, again, 72-68, but LETU scored the following four points for an eight-point lead, 76-68. ETBU came within six, 76-70, on two Davis free throws by LETU converted a layup with 25 seconds left to seal the win, 78-70.
 
ETBU travels to Howard Payne University next Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in ASC play.