An offensive rebound and put-back attempt by ETBU's Junior Mitchell led the visiting Tigers to a 56-54 win over LeTourneau University on Saturday in Longview.

The YellowJackets (9-13, 6-7 ASC) had forced a desperation 3-point attempt by Dylan Augustine with the shot clock winding down before an alert Mitchell came in from the perimeter for the game-winning, put-back attempt with seven seconds to go. LeTourneau called a timeout and looked to set up a play to send the contest into overtime. However, the YellowJackets were unable to get off a shot.
 
"Both teams defended at a high level and they made one more play then we did," said LETU head coach Dan Miller. "We got the defensive stop, we needed, but we didn't box out on their last possession. I love our guys and how they go to battle every game. We will learn from this and be ready the next time we take the floor."

LeTourneau was led by sophomore Alec Colhoff and freshman Caleb Loggins, who had 14 and 10 points, respectively. Colhoff hit three 3-pointers and Loggins nearly had a double double with nine rebounds to go along with three assists and two blocked shots. It is the 10^th game for the YellowJackets decided by three points or less.
 
The Tigers (18-4, 11-2 ASC) were led by Jordan Quillian and Augustine, who scored 16 and 11 points, respectively. East Texas Baptist outrebounded LeTourneau, 49-to-38 in the win with Quillian and Loggins each with nine.
 
The Highway 80 rivalry lived up to its billing as the score was tied four times and lead changed five more times. LeTourneau cut the deficit to one on five occasions in the second half; then they were able to take their first lead since the 17:31 mark of the first half when Colhoff hit a 3-pointer with 4:21 to play that put the YellowJackets ahead 52-50. The two teams traded baskets with junior Jeff Martin putting LETU ahead 54-52 with 2:36 to play.
 
After both teams each made a pair of baskets with just under a minute to play, Quillian tied the game at 54 with :52 to play. After an ETBU timeout, LETU missed a chance to go ahead and the Tigers called a timeout with :18 left. Coming out of the timeout, Augustine put up the 3-pointer with :11 to play, but a perceptive Mitchell came in for what proved to be the game-winning basket.
 
The YellowJackets will next take their final road trip of the regular season when they travel to Belhaven on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 3 p.m.