Campus News

M BASKETBALL: ETBU fights for 72-67 overtime win at Texas-Tyler

TYLER, Texas (1/28/10) – After surviving a surge of momentum by Texas-Tyler in the second half of regulation, ETBU outscored the Patriots with a 72-67 gut-check of a win in overtime Thursday night at the Herrington Patriot Center.

Just 48 hours after a grueling, physical win over LeTourneau Tuesday night, the Tigers (8-10, 7-7) had just enough juice left in the tank to turn back UT Tyler (10-8, 6-7) with a huge road win that vaults ETBU into the fourth and final playoff spot in the ASC East Division with six conference games left. The two teams will meet again in a quick rematch next Thursday night in the Tigers’ home finale in Ornelas Gym.

The win didn’t come easy Thursday, as Texas-Tyler clamped down on ETBU about midway through the second half after the Tigers had built a 47-36 lead. Using a wave of offensive rebounds and ETBU turnovers, the Patriots stormed back to take a 50-49 lead with under five minutes remaining in regulation.

Both teams hung around until the closing seconds, when UT Tyler had the chance to win it in regulation. Hakeem Kareem’s jumper missed at the end of the half, and the two teams went into overtime with a 55-55 tie.

Josh Chambers broke the tie with a bucket at the 4:16 mark of overtime, giving ETBU a 57-55 lead. Travan Porchia tied it for the Patriots seconds later, but the Tigers regained the advantage on the next possession with a James Morman jumper for a 59-57 lead.

Another Chambers bucket at 2:08 widened the lead to 61-57, and the Tigers’ defense kept the advantage until Jaron Joseph hit two big free throws to make it 63-57 with under a minute to go.

Joseph added another couple of free throws along with a pair of charity shots from Jacob Turnipseed down the stretch. Chambers’ dunk with 18 seconds to go sealed the deal for ETBU.

Morman led the Tigers with 15 points and eight rebounds, and Deba Egharevba added 13 points and eight boards. Turnipseed finished with 12 points.

Kareem led the Patriots with 20 points and 11 rebounds. UT Tyler out-rebounded ETBU, 44-41, with 27 of those 44 coming on the offensive end.

The Tigers will play a non-conference game against Dallas Saturday at 3 p.m. in Ornelas Gym before facing LeTourneau Tuesday night in Longview.