NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Seven shots from deep and four double-digit scorers told the story of East Texas Baptist University's balanced offensive explosion. ETBU (6-13) secured a 70-65 victory against Salisbury (10-9). ETBU led by as many as eight points in the second half and was paced by a balanced offense with 30 bench points. Salisbury stayed competitive with a 36-32 advantage in points in the paint but ultimately fell short.
Nathan Fleming led the team with 20 points and 14 rebounds, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Jack Pease matched him with 20 points and added seven assists, converting 9 of 14 field goal attempts.
Orlando Gooden III contributed 10 points, hitting 2 of 5 from beyond the arc. Joshua Joe recorded four assists and two steals, impacting both ends of the court.
ETBU opened the game by establishing control through efficient shooting and strong defensive play. Pease contributed by hitting a key 3-pointer at 9:43 that helped set the tone. Despite trailing early on, ETBU pulled ahead, assisted by Fleming's active performance in the paint. The tigers finished the first half with a 37–31 lead over Salisbury.
ETBU gained momentum with back-to-back three-pointers by
Michael Roberts and Fleming at 17:54 and 15:19, respectively, extending their lead. Despite Salisbury closing the gap midway through the half, Gooden's jumper at 2:18 helped maintain the Tigers' advantage. In the final minutes, Pease's layup at 3:43 and a series of free throws by Fleming and Roberts secured the victory.
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- 20 points
- 6/6 free throws made
- 14 rebounds
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- 20 points
- 7 assists
- 4 rebounds
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- 10 points
- 2 three-pointers made
- 2 rebounds
Joshua Joe
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- 2 steals
- 4 assists
- 1 block
The Tigers improve to 6-13 overall with the victory. Salisbury is now 10-9 on the season.ETBU will be back at Ornelas gymnasium next Saturday taking on Howard Payne at 3:00 p.m
