POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH CHAD WILLIAMS AND BOB DAVIS

LONGVIEW - In an exciting, grind-it-out, action packed game, the LeTourneau YellowJacket withstood everything rival East Texas Baptist threw at them to take a tough 74-68 win in Solheim Arena on Senior Day.

On a day where seniors Deitrich Williams, Cristian Driver, and Kendrae Carter were honored in pregame and in a game that the Jackets had to have to keep pushing toward the American Southwest Conference Tournament, LeTourneau sent a packed house home happy for the final time as they closed their home season strong.

ETBU opened the game with layup followed by a layup by junior Chad Williams to tie it at two. Freshman Ladaria Brown buried a three followed by a second three pointer from D. Williams to give the Jackets an 8-3 advantage. 

The Tigers tied the game back at 10 before C. Williams and junior Justin Jones went to work in the post to extend the game to 16-10. 

East Texas Baptist closed the gap to 18-15, but the Jackets got points from C. Williams, Jones, D. Williams, and Driver to take an eight point lead with 4:21 to go in the first half.

Again, the Tigers closed the gap and tied the game at 29, but LeTourneau sent Solheim Arena into a frenzy after freshman Chris Hynes sent an amazing alley oop to Driver who slammed it home.

ETBU did get two free throws off a technical and the two teams went into halftime deadlocked.

The Jackets started the half scoring seven of the first nine points thanks to great post presence by Jones and C. Williams and a three from Driver.

The Tigers chipped back into the game, but LeTourneau looked like they were about to break it open as sophomore Paul All hit a pair of layup followed by a three pointer from Driver and a three point play from brown to go up 50-41.

But the fiesty squad from ETBU would not go down easily as they clamped down on defense and hit some key shots to make it aa 52-51 game with 10:31 to go and what seemed like all the momentum in their favor.

However, both C. Williams and sophomore Josh Thornton hit big shots to push their lead back out to seven with 7:05 to go.

ETBU seemed to have another run in them as they again got it down to three thanks to key play from Junior Mitchell. However, big shot Brown swung the momentum again at the 4:25 mark with a daggering three to take a 67-61 advantage.

From there, Brown took over and closed the game, hitting big shots when ETBU was looking for key stops. Jones and C. Williams iced the game with free throws and the Jackets got a huge win.

The Jackets shot a blazing 46% from the field and 29% from the three point line. They forced 17 Tiger turnovers on the afternoon despite losing the rebounding battle, 37-35.

C. Williams was huge off the bench on the afternoon, scoring 17 points with eight boards and three blocked shots including one that went five rows deep into the stand late in the game. Joned added 15 points and eight boards while Driver pitched in 14 points with four threes. Brown also added 13 points, seven board, and two steals. D. Williams ran the offense beautifully all day, picking up seven points and seven assists.

With the win and a Mississipi College and Louisiana College loss, the Jackets move into third place in the ASC East. The Jackets have not clinched a spot yet, but two wins this upcoming weekend or one win and a LC loss will clinch a spot for LeTourneau.

It will not be easy as LeTourneau goes to the mountains on Thursday to take on the University of the Ozarks, a place where Mississippi College just fell today. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.