ETBU Stifles Ozarks, Advances to ASC Semifinals
2/26/2015 10:51:38 PM
Final Box Score
No. 1 East Texas Baptist 67, Ozarks 52
MARSHALL, Texas — Coming into the tournament as the top seed, East Texas Baptist University held serve on its home court on the opening night of the ASC Tournament to advance to the semifinals for the second time as they defeated Ozarks 67-52.
ETBU was led in scoring by Dylan Augustine with 18 points, including four three pointers. Junior Mitchell added 12 points, the only Tigers to score in double figures. Jamil Samuel led ETBU with 13 rebounds and blocked four shots. Jace Richardson led Ozarks with nine points and Josh Berard led the team with 12 rebounds.
ETBU never trailed in the game. Augustine opened the scoring with a three pointer, and for the first few minutes the teams stayed fairly close. ETBU got out to a 14-7 lead, but Ozarks rallied to make it 14-13, but they were never able to get over the hump and take the lead. Up 16-15, ETBU closed the half on an 8-0 run to go into intermission up 24-15. Neither team shot well in the first half. Ozarks shot 7-34 from the field in the first half, just over 20 percent. ETBU shot 9-30, including 5-13 from three point range.
ETBU took their first double digit lead with a bucket to open the second half. From there ETBU went on a 14-3 run to take a 21 point lead at 40-19. ETBU made five three pointers in the run, including two from Augustine. ETBU would lead by as many as 22 in the game, as they kept a double-digit edge for the rest of the half, cruising to the 15 point win. ETBU won all three meetings with Ozarks this season.
ETBU shot 50% in the second half, 40.3 percent for the game. ETBU has been top 10 nationally in field goal percentage allowed most of the season and it showed tonight as they limited Ozarks to just 29.2 percent shooting.
ETBU will play Howard Payne at 7:30 p.m. in the second semifinal game tomorrow night.