ETBU's Shocking 20-Point Comeback: How They Stunned California in the Final Moments!

LA VERNE, Calif. — In a thrilling finish on January 4, 2026, East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) overcame a nine-point halftime deficit to secure a hard-fought victory against the University of La Verne (ULV), ending the game with a score of 74-70. This win marked an important moment for the Tigers, who improved their record to 4-11 while ULV fell to 2-7.

Trailing 45-34 at the half, ETBU surged back in the second period, outscoring ULV 38-25. The Tigers took advantage of ULV's 13 turnovers, converting them into 12 crucial points. ETBU's bench players also made a significant impact, contributing 22 points overall to the team's effort.

Jack Pease was a standout performer, tying his career-high with 23 points on 9 of 18 shooting from the field. His efforts were complemented by Mitch Williams, who added 12 points, hitting 5 of 8 from the field, including two three-pointers. Joshua Joe was instrumental on both ends of the court, not only scoring nine points but also recording two steals and seven rebounds. Nathan Fleming had a solid performance, contributing five assists and seven rebounds, while Orlando Gooden II chipped in with ten points.

The game began with ETBU gaining an early lead, highlighting Pease’s skills with a three-pointer assisted by Fleming. However, ULV quickly responded, establishing a nine-point lead at 14-5 with 14:50 remaining in the first half. ETBU showed resilience, narrowing the gap with a Christin Dews three-point play, bringing the score to 23-21 at 8:50. A layup by Williams further chipped away at the deficit, bringing the Tigers within one point at 35-34 before ULV finished the half on a 10-2 run, heading into halftime with a 45-36 advantage.

The second half saw ETBU demonstrating tenacity and teamwork. Key plays from Fleming and Dews helped close the gap early, with Dews scoring a layup just 39 seconds into the half, followed by another basket from Fleming, reducing the score to 45-40. As the half progressed, the Tigers continued to apply pressure, with Gooden III leveling the game at 54-54 with a layup at 11:52. A pivotal moment occurred when Shad Levy's defensive prowess shone through; his block at 6:54 led to a tip-in by Joe, giving ETBU a narrow lead at 65-64.

With just under four minutes left, Pease executed a crucial layup at 3:51 and followed up with free throws, pushing ETBU's lead to 72-68 by 3:10. Levy further extended the advantage with two free throws at 2:56, bringing the score to 74-68. Although ETBU did not score in the final 2:50 of the game, their defense held strong, allowing them to clinch the victory.

The Tigers will look to build on this momentum when they host Lyon College on January 14 at 6:00 p.m., aiming to further improve their season standing.

ETBU Top Performers:

• Jack Pease: 23 points, 9/18 field goals made, 4 rebounds.
• Mitch Williams: 12 points, 5/8 field goals made, 2 three-pointers made.
• Orlando Gooden II: 10 points, 3 assists.
• Joshua Joe: 9 points, 2 steals, 7 rebounds.
• Nathan Fleming: 5 points, 5 assists, 7 rebounds.