MARSHALL, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team held off a frantic comeback bid from East Texas Baptist and won the game on a clutch three-pointer and free throw as the Cru topped the Tigers 75-73 Saturday afternoon in Marshall. UMHB improves to 3-2 on the season with the victory. The loss drops ETBU to 5-3 on the year.
 
The Cru had an 11-point lead with 4:13 remaining before the Tigers stormed back to tie the game at 69 with 2:47 left to play. Josiah Johnson hit two free throws to put UMHB up 71-69, but Jayden Williams buried a three-pointer to give ETBU a 72-71 edge. The Tigers pushed it to 73-71 before Aedan Welch drained a three-pointer with 1:14 on the clock to put UMHB back on top 74-73. Gibson Hearne added a free-throw after ETBU turned the ball over on an offensive foul and Johnson came down with a huge rebound after the Tigers potential game-tying shot was off the mark in the final seconds to seal the win.
 
The Cru dominated the early going and built a 13-point lead in the first half. The Tigers closed that half with an 8-0 run to cut it to 42-37 at halftime. UMHB opened the second half with another rush to put the lead back into double figures and set up the exciting final minutes.
 
Johnson had another huge game for the Cru, leading all scorers with 38 points on 11-20 shooting. Welch added 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists. UMHB shot 53 percent from the field in the victory and went 8-20 on three-pointers. The Cru also shot 19-25 from the free-throw line to help overcome 24 turnovers.
 
Aaron Gregg had 13 points to lead ETBU, Landin Brown added 12 and Jaden Conner chipped in 11 more. The Tigers shot 39 percent from the field, 26 percent from long-range and went 16-27 from the stripe. ETBU did have a slight 36-34 rebounding edge in the contest as UMHB held the lead for 36:29 on the day compared to just 1:39 for the Tigers.
 
The Cru men will return to action with the start of American Southwest Conference play. UMHB will take on UT Dallas Thursday night in Richardson before closing out the week with a Saturday game at the University of the Ozarks Saturday in Clarksville, Arkansas.