MARSHALL, Texas – With two seconds left, East Texas Baptist University's Westin Riddick swooshed a clutch three-pointer from way down town for the buzzer beater win over the University of Texas Tyler Patriots, 80-79, in American Southwest Conference East Division men's basketball play. With the win, ETBU still remains tied for first in the ASC East with a 9-2 record and are 15-3 overall.
 
Riddick's shot gave him 25 points to lead ETBU while Jordan Gosey picked up 16 points and was a rebound shy of a double-double. Darrice Whitley added 11 points while Landin Brown dished out nine assists. UTT was led by Skyler Hadden, who tallied a game-high 27 points.
 
ETBU made 50 % of their shots (32-of-64) from the field and the three-point line (13-of-26). This was better than the 48.4% from the field and 26.3% from three-point range made by UTT. ETBU also scored 18 bench points and 13 fast break points. Both teams also scored 17 points off turnovers.
 
While head men's basketball coach Brandon Curran credits his team's performance, the real credit goes to the Lord, who provided his players with a chance to play. "HE's the one who's blessed these guys with the abilities," said Coach Curran. "He's given Westin the ability to shoot the ball and he's done great all year. Just the things the Lord is doing in this team and the hearts of minds of these players is something to watch. The way that they are coming together and are selfless with each other. It's just really incredible and I get a front row seat to watch what all that the spirit is doing, how HE's moving and watching these guys grow and mature as men. Man, it is fun to win on the court, but the other is so much more powerful and so much more rewarding."
 
The first six minutes saw ETBU go on a 16-6 run that started with eight combined points by Robby Dooley and Gosey while five points from Whitley and three by Riddick (14:01) gave ETBU the lead. UTT would claw their way back with a 13-5 run (13:42-10:33) to trail 21-19 before ETBU two straight three's by Riddick (9:50-9:15) to lead by eight (27-19). UTT would then cut the deficit to three at 31-28 (6:33) only for ETBU to push the lead to 40-32 (6:33-3:27). But UTT answered tallied eight straight points to tie the game at 40 before Gosey (0:22) tallied a basket to lead 42-40 at the break.
 
ETBU would keep the lead until 15:56 when UTT would lead 50-49 on a basket by Hadden. They would then increase the lead to 57-51 at 13:18 before ETBU answered with an 8-1 run to lead 59-58 following a three by Gavin Sabo (11:18). The next six minutes would find ETBU pushing the lead to 75-68 with 5:05 to play. A couple of free throws by Whitley gave ETBU a 77-69 lead with 4:14 left. But UTT would not back away as they would tally six unanswered points (3:28-1:19) to trail 77-75. Then with fifty seconds left, Johnell Lane gave the Patriots a 78-77 lead. ETBU would have two chances to take the lead only to commit turnovers on both possessions. Tatum made the first free throw to lead 79-77 with eight seconds to spare. But after Tatum missed the second free throw, Brown got the rebound and went on the offense. He then found Riddick, who shot a three-pointer, which went in with two seconds left. UTT did have one last chance to steal the game. But their shot missed and ETBU hung on to win.
 
ETBU will host the University of Ozarks this Saturday at 4:00 PM in Ornelas Gym for another ASC East game.