Campus News

M BASKETBALL: ETBU takes break from ASC with 78-56 non-conference win over Dallas

MARSHALL, Texas (1/30/10) – Three players reached double figures in scoring and 14 saw playing time overall as ETBU rolled past the University of Dallas, 78-56, in non-conference men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon in Ornelas Gym.

The win was the Tigers’ (9-10) third in a row. Dallas, an independent NCAA Division III program and former member of the American Southwest Conference, dropped to 9-10 with the loss.

Coming off an extremely grueling week in the ASC that included a physical, overtime win at Texas-Tyler on Thursday night, the Tigers used their bench numbers Saturday. No starter played more than 27 minutes in the game and 12 of the 14 players used by coach Bert West saw at least five minutes of action.

Junior forward Deba Egharevba and senior forward James Morman finished with 13 points apiece, with Egharevba adding 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the year. The lone senior on this year’s team, Morman shot 5 of 11 from the floor and was 3 of 7 from three-point range in his 21 minutes of action, which was his second-lowest minutes in a game this season.

Junior point guard Jacob Turnipseed added 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 26 minutes, which was almost five minutes below his season average.

The Tigers raced out to a 40-23 lead at halftime and despite a quick early burst in the second half by the Crusaders that cut the lead to 12 on a couple of occasions, ETBU was able to regain control and pull away down the stretch.

ETBU crushed Dallas on the glass, with a 52-22 advantage in rebounding. That was a far cry from Thursday’s rebounding output against UT Tyler, in which the Patriots grabbed 27 offensive rebounds alone.

Saturday’s win was also the 199th career victory for West as coach of the Tigers.

Jim Norton led the Crusaders with 16 points, and Travis Ekmark added 13.

ETBU will be back on the road Tuesday night for a crucial rematch against rival LeTourneau, with tipoff set for 7:30 at Solheim Arena in Longview.