BELTON, Texas -- Deonte Jackson scored a season-high 32 points, but the LeTourneau men's basketball team fell to Mary Hardin-Baylor, 75-66, in ASC play on Thursday night in Belton.

Jackson scored 19 points in the second half and recorded his eighth career 30-point game. He went 10-of-23 from the field with four 3-pointers and was 8-of-9 at the line to go with three rebounds and three assists for LeTourneau (4-4, 1-2 ASC).

The YellowJackets trailed the entire second half, including by 12 early in the period, but cut the margin to 67-60 with under three minutes left. LeTourneau got back-to-back baskets from Caedmon Liebengood to get within 67-64 with 1:46 left.

Liebengood finished with a double-double of 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds to go with two blocks. 

Down by three, LeTourneau had a possession to try and tie the game with just over a minute left, but came up short on a 3-point attempt. After two made UMHB free throws on the other end, Jackson made a quick layup with 47 seconds to get the game back within three (69-66). 

Mary Hardin-Baylor (3-4, 1-1 ASC) made six straight free throws down the stretch to hold off the YellowJackets.

The host Cru led by two (34-32) at the half after Walker Blaine made a layup in the final 0.6 seconds of the period on an inbounds pass from Jackson. UMHB opened the second half on a 10-0 run to gain a 12-point lead at 44-32 before Jackson scored seven straight for the YellowJackets to keep the visitors in the game.

Alex Ferrell added six points, six rebounds, and two assists for LeTourneau. Jalen Cherry had four points and nine rebounds. The YellowJackets shot 37.1 percent (23-of-62) for the game and were 15-of-19 at the foul line.

Josiah Johnson led all players with 37 points and six rebounds. Johnson went 15-of-19 at the foul line, including 11 made free throws in the second half. The Cru made six 3-pointers on the night despite being held to 38.1 percent (24-of-63) from the field.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau returns to action on Saturday at Concordia Texas in Austin (3 p.m.).

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