ABILENE, Texas -- Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team held off a furious last minute rally by East Texas Baptist to secure an 82-80 American Southwest Conference win on Saturday afternoon at the Mabee Complex.

The teams played a tightly-contested first half. HSU used a 7-0 run to take a 25-16 lead with 10:27 to play, but the Tigers scored eight straight to make it 25-24. The Cowboys pushed the lead back to eight at halftime at 42-34.

The Cowboys led the entire second half, but ETBU hung around and it was 51-50. HSU pushed the lead out to 74-63 with 2:15 to play before the Tigers caught fire. The Cowboys went 12-of-14 in the final 2:27 at the free throw line as the Tigers were fouling to extend the game.

Erby Thompson. Justin Felicia and Jamil Samuel all hit 3-pointers in the final 1:57 and the Tigers had two steals and layups. Nathaniel Jack split a pair of free throws with :09 to play and the Tigers had one last shot to win the game by Anthony Davis' 3-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out.

Sophomores Justin Jones and Nathaniel Jack each had 20 points for the Cowboys and Cameron Barnes added 15 and Christian O'Neal had 14. Derrick Jefferson had nine points, seven rebounds and six assists.  

Samuel led the Tigers with 17 points, Felicia added 12 and Junior Mitchell chipped in 10 points.

The Cowboys are now 12-1 on the year and 8-0 in ASC action. ETBU fell to 9-3 overall and to 4-3 in conference play. The Cowboys play at Mary Hardin-Baylor on Thursday.

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