MARSHALL, Texas — Coming out of the gates fast and furious to start the 2026-27 season, East Texas Baptist University (1-0) opened the year with an almost 40+ point victory over Belhaven University (0-1), 92-53, on Friday in the second game of the ETBU Tipoff Classic. The Tigers used a 13-0 third-quarter run to stretch a 10-point lead to 23 and had four separate "kill shots" (successful 10-0 or greater runs) in the contest. ETBU finished with a 65-23 rebounding advantage, including 27 offensive rebounds, and scored 26 second-chance points.
Dana Barnett scored a career-high 20 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the field and hitting four 3-pointers.
Macey Jones finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and one block.
Tristan Smith collected 10 rebounds and recorded seven assists.
Zoe Alford added 12 points and tallied three steals.
The Tigers created separation with a 10-0 run, turning a 12-10 lead into a 22-10 advantage late in the first quarter. ETBU also opened with nine straight points and controlled the glass 20-6, including seven offensive rebounds. The Tigers finished the quarter ahead 26-17.
Barnett gave ETBU the quarter's main lift, hitting four 3-pointers in a row from 7:40 to 4:51 as the Tigers went from a 26-22 lead to a 38-26 advantage.
Marley Keith added three late free throws, and
Aubrey Marjason made two more at 00:23 to help ETBU finish the second quarter ahead 43-33.
ETBU used a 13-0 run early in the third quarter, with Alford scoring five points in the stretch and Marjason's 3-pointer making it 56-33 at 6:34. After Belhaven answered with two 3-pointers, the Tigers put together another 10-0 run capped by Alford's two free throws for a 66-39 lead. ETBU outscored Belhaven 28-11 in the quarter, turned seven turnovers into 12 points and entered the fourth ahead 71-44.
ETBU scored the final 11 points of the fourth quarter, moving from an 81-53 advantage at 3:12 to a 92-53 finish.
Savannah Wagner added two layups during the closing run,
Conley Gibson hit a 3-pointer and a late layup, and the Tigers held Belhaven scoreless after the 3:37 mark. ETBU outscored Belhaven 21-9 in the quarter and closed out the 92-53 win.
ETBU plays its second game in the Tipoff Classic as it hosts Milwaukee School of Engineering on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Ornelas Gym.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
First Quarter
- ETBU started with a 9-0 run, getting a Jones layup, an Alford jumper, a Gazey Yates 3-pointer, and another Jones layup by 8:00.
- Belhaven answered with baskets from several different angles, including a 3-pointer, which brought the margin to 12-10 at 4:46.
- The Tigers put together the next 10 points, with Keith, Alford, Barnett, and Jones all scoring during a stretch that pushed the lead to 22-10 at 2:19.
- Belhaven cut into the margin late, but Jones and Smith added inside baskets before ETBU finished the quarter ahead 26-17.
Second Quarter
- Belhaven opened the quarter with a layup and a 3-pointer to get within 26-22.
- Barnett accounted for ETBU's next 12 points, hitting four 3-pointers from 7:40 to 4:51 as the Tigers moved ahead 38-26.
- Keith added three free throws, including one after a steal at 2:19, and Marjason made two late free throws before Belhaven scored the final basket before halftime to leave ETBU ahead 43-33.
Third Quarter
- ETBU used a 13-0 run early in the quarter, with Alford hitting a 3-pointer at 9:29 and Marjason adding a 3-pointer at 6:34 to move the score to 56-33.
- Belhaven followed with 3-pointers from multiple players, making it 56-39 at 5:39.
- The Tigers put together another 10-0 stretch, starting with a Yates 3-pointer at 3:15 and adding points from Jones, Marjason and Alford to reach 66-39 at 1:04.
- Belhaven scored late, but ETBU closed the quarter with a Barnett jumper and a Marjason 3-pointer to take a 71-44 lead into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
- Belhaven scored the first two points of the quarter and later added a jumper, while Alford and Jones scored inside for ETBU; Jones' free throw at 6:22 made it 76-48.
- After Belhaven scored in the paint, the Tigers answered with Karlee Cronk's layup and two Wagner free throws before Belhaven hit a 3-pointer at 3:37 to make it 81-53.
- ETBU closed on an 11-0 run from 3:12 to 0:17, with Wagner scoring twice, Kenzy Thompson adding two free throws and Gibson hitting a 3-pointer before finishing a late layup in the 92-53 win.
ETBU Top Performers
Dana Barnett
- 20 points
- 7 field goals made
- 4 3-pointers
Macey Jones
- 18 points
- 7 rebounds
- 7 field goals made
Tristan Smith
- 10 rebounds
- 7 assists
Zoe Alford
- 12 points
- 3 steals
Marley Keith
- 8 points
- 7 rebounds
- 6 free throws made
