ABILENE, Texas – An early lead in the first half by East Texas Baptist University didn't last long as Hardin-Simmons University went on a 15-0 run over six minutes, going on to defeat the Tigers, 90-68. ETBU is now 6-17 and 2-4 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
Jason Justice had 22 points with three rebounds and two assists. Joshua R Davis added 16 points, while Colin Roberts had 13 points and six rebounds. ETBU shot 46 percent from the floor, 36 percent from the arc, and 62 percent on the line. HSU finished at 55 percent shooting, 42 percent from three-point range, and 69 percent in free throws. HSU also outrebounded ETBU 38-27.
 
ETBU took a 7-4 lead at 17:34 on a Roberts jumper. In the next six minutes, HSU went on a 15-0 run for a 12-point lead, 19-7, at 11:05. By 7:17, ETBU was down by 17 points, 30-13, and 19 points at 4:10, 36-17. Davis had a bucket with 43 seconds left to bring the halftime lead down to 16 points, 40-26.
 
HSU made it a 20-point lead, 44-24, just over a minute into the second half. Justice hit a jumper at 17:13 to come within 18 points, 48-30, but HSU had a steal and fast-break layup at 16:18 for a 20-point lead, 50-30. Davis had a three-pointer at 13:09 to put ETBU within 16, 55-39, as that was as close as ETBU would come the rest of the half. At 7:38, HSU made it a 30-point lead, 74-44, with their largest lead of 34 points, 80-46, at 6:58. Justice put in a layup at 2:18 as ETBU was within 18, 82-64. Malachi Evans had a bucket to end the game as ETBU fell 90-68.
 
ETBU will host Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday, February 15, at 3:00 p.m. in Ornelas Gym.