ABILENE, Texas -- The LeTourneau men's basketball team fell 79-76 at Hardin-Simmons in a close one on Saturday afternoon.
LeTourneau (11-7, 6-4 ASC) took a late lead in the second half but could not hold on to overcome Hardin-Simmons (14-3, 8-1 ASC), who sit atop the ASC standings.
The first period started with a neck-and-neck run as LeTourneau went bucket for bucket with the hosts showing Hardin-Simmons ahead 14-12 at the first media stoppage.
The Cowboys then went on an 11-2 run as Tyler Williams scored six in that stretch.
LeTourneau answered right back as they went on a 15-2 run to level the game at 31-31 with Deonte Jackson scoring eight and Christian Adams tallying five with a dunk in that stretch.
Hardin-Simmons would rally and take a 40-33 lead into the locker room.
LeTourneau came out of the break on an 11-7 run and had Jackson, Caedmon Liebengood, and Walker Blaine all contributing to make it 47-46 with the Cowboys ahead by one.
Jackson would find an and-one bucket before going into the second media timeout to tie the game and came out on the other side to sink the free throw and take a 56-55 lead.
This sent LeTourneau to an 11-1 run with Liebengood draining a pair of triples as the Jackets led 64-56 with 7:59 showing on the clock.
Will Bartoszek later answered with 11 points for the hosts to tie it at 74-74 with 2:14 remaining.
The Cowboys would eventually take the lead after Jalen McGee made a free throw to show 77-76 on the scoreboard. Sila Livingston would then put in a pair of free throws to give Hardin-Simmons a 79-76 lead.
LeTourneau would get a shot off from Liebengood which went off the rim, but went off the Cowboys with 4.7 seconds remaining leaving one shot off an inbounds play for the visiting YellowJackets. They got the ball into Liebengood who did not get a clean look and missed it wide.
Jackson led the YellowJackets in scoring with 22 points. Liebengood followed with 16 and was a rebound short of a double-double with nine boards.
Jackson Mayes tallied 12 points and Blaine scored 11 to pair with his seven rebounds.
UP NEXT
LeTourneau returns home on Thursday to face Concordia Texas (7:30 p.m.).
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