MARSHALL, Texas – For the fifth time this season, East Texas Baptist University scored over 200 points in a meet as they competed in the first round of the NCATA Division III National Tournament. ETBU came away with 208.655 points as the no. 4 seed, falling to no. 3 seed Trine University (217.110). ETBU is now 4-5 on the year and will face Buffalo State University on Friday in Ornelas Gym.
 
Overall, ETBU had two 9.0+ scores and seven 8.0+ scores. They earned a 9.35 in the Compulsory Pyramid Heat and a 9.03 in the Pyramid Event Synchronized Heat.
 
ETBU competed neck-to-neck with Trine, being within seven to nine points the entire meet. They trailed the Thunder after the Compulsory by six points, 33.95 to 27.68. With the 9.35 in the Pyramid heat, ETBU had an 8.95 in the Toss heat.
 
They inched closer to Trine in the Acro Event with 19.18 points to the Thunder's 20.35. The 5-Element was the best heat with an 8.08. It was another close event in the Pyramid as ETBU scored 26.20 points to Trine's 27.18. ETBU started with an 8.85 in the Inversion heat, followed by a 9.03 in the Synchronized, and finished with an 8.33 in the Open. They trailed Trine, 81.48 to 73.05 at the half.
 
Another point differential happened, again, in the Toss Even as ETBU had 24.70 points to Trine's 25.43. ETBU scored three 8.0+ scores with an 8.25 in the 450 Salto, 8.15 in the Synchronized, and an 8.30 in the Open.
 
ETBU won the Tumbling Event over Trine, 41.825 points to 41.150. The Aerial Pass earned the best score, 7.975. They followed that with another event win, scoring 69.08 points to Trine's 69.06 points in the Team Event.
 
Overall, Trine came away with just over an eight-point win vs. ETBU.

ETBU will now face Buffalo State University at 6:00 p.m. on Friday in Ornelas Gym.