MARSHALL, Texas – Turnovers became the difference in the game as East Texas Baptist University gave up the ball 14 times to Centenary College for 15 in the 64-62 loss in Ornelas Gym. ETBU had two turnovers in the final 40 seconds of the game that led to Centenary taking the lead as the Tigers fell to 3-9 on the year.
 
Michael Roberts finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds for his third double-double of the year. Christian Dews added 11 points and Shad Levy gave 10 points as Jack Pease had nine points. ETBU shot 49 percent overall but made just three three-pointers for 21 percent and went 9-of-14 from the line. Centenary made 42 percent from the floor and was 5-of-20 from the arc making four in the second half going 11-of-12 from the foul line. ETBU out rebounded Centenary, 37-25, but turned the ball over 14 times to the Gents four.
 
It was a back-and-forth first half as ETBU had a 35-31 lead at the half. ETBU took a 6-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game and had a 10-point lead, 20-10, at 10:48 on a Pease layup. By the 4:32 mark, Centenary was within two, 24-22, and then had the lead down to one, 28-27, at 2:04. Antone Stewart IV hit a jumper with six seconds left to make it a four-point lead at the half, 35-31, as ETBU led from the beginning.
 
ETBU made just one three-pointer in the second half and shot 42 percent overall as Centenary connected on four three-pointers. All 11 lead changes came in the second half as the two teams battled back and forth. ETBU had a four-point lead, 44-40, at 15:35 on a Dews free throw but by 11:41 the Gents were up three, 49-46. Pease nailed two free throws at 5:39 for a three-point ETBU lead, 56-53, only to see Centenary retake the lead, 59-58, at 2:50. Roberts gave ETBU the one-point lead, 62-61, with 1:07 left. ETBU had the ball after a Centenary miss with 30 seconds left but turned the ball over. Centenary followed with a three-pointer with 10 seconds left and then ETBU turned the all over, again, as the clock read four seconds falling to Centenary, 64-62.
 
ETBU will be back at home on December 21 when they host Lewis and Clark College at 4:00 p.m.