MARSHALL, Texas — Tied at 61 with just over two minutes to play, East Texas Baptist University (0-1) lost a nail-biter in the season-opening game to Southwestern University (TX) (1-0), 72-68, on Saturday night. ETBU was outscored by 12 in the second half after leading 35-27 going into halftime, with Southwestern (TX) taking the lead with 1:57 left and never conceding it.
Orlando Gooden III scored 19 points and converted all eight free throws, adding four rebounds and three assists.
Shad Levy finished with 17 points, five rebounds and six made free throws.
Colin Roberts added 11 points and recorded three blocks and three steals. ETBU shot 44 percent from the floor and 55 percent from the arc but was out-rebounded, 33-31, and gave up 19 points off turnovers.
ETBU broke from a 16-16 tie midway through the first half, with scoring from
Kaden Booker,
Kendall Mitchell, Roberts and Gooden III to build a 31-20 lead with 6:16 left. The home side shot 13 of 26 from the field, made 4 of 7 from the 3-point range and held a 16-4 edge in points in the paint. Southwestern (TX) cut into the margin late, but the Tigers took a 35-27 lead into halftime.
ETBU led 61-58 on Levy's free throws with 2:51 left, but Southwestern (TX) answered and tied the game on a layup at 2:12. Two free throws 15 seconds later and a three-pointer at 1:03 gave the Pirates a six-point lead, 67-61. Gooden III made four free throws in the final minute, and Levy hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left to cut the deficit to 71-68. Southwestern (TX) added a late free throw to take the win in Ornelas Gym, 72-68.
ETBU will host Lyon College (AR) on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at 7 p.m. in Ornelas Gym.
HALF BREAKDOWN
First Half
- Early scoring from Levy and Roberts kept ETBU in a back-and-forth start, and Chyjuan Dumas' layup at 12:37 put the Tigers ahead 14-13.
- After Eyal Shamri tied it 16-16 with a 3-pointer, Booker hit from outside, and Mitchell added a layup as ETBU moved in front 21-16.
- The Tigers stretched the margin with perimeter baskets from Gooden III and Roberts, building a 31-20 lead at 6:16.
- Southwestern (TX) got within 31-24 on a layup, but Booker answered with another 3-pointer, and Mitchell added a free throw before a Pirate 3-pointer set the halftime score at 35-27.
Second Half
- ETBU went ahead 37-27 on a Roberts layup, but Southwestern (TX) answered with a 10-0 "Kill Shot" capped by a Pirate 3-pointer to tie it at 37.
- Gooden III and Roberts helped the Tigers move back in front, and Gooden's second-chance layup pushed the lead to 58-50 at 8:32.
- Southwestern (TX) worked back late, with the Pirates scoring consecutive layups to put the visitors ahead 62-61 at 2:12 before free throws and another 3-pointer made it 67-61.
- Gooden made four free throws in the final minute, and Levy hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left, but Southwestern (TX) closed it out at the line for a 72-68 final.
ETBU Top Performers
Orlando Gooden III
- 19 points
- 8/8 free throws made
- 3 assists
- 4 rebounds
Shad Levy
- 17 points
- 6 free throws made
- 5 rebounds
Colin Roberts
- 11 points
- 3 blocks
- 3 steals
- 5/7 field goals made
Kaden Booker
- 6 points
- 2/2 3-pointers made
- 3 rebounds
