Final Statistics

MARSHALL- Sul Ross men's basketball (2-0) rallied from a 41-36 deficit at the half and defeated host East Texas Baptist University (1-1), 82-80 in a Friday non-conference contest.

Caleb Thomasson (Ackerly/Sands) shouldered a team-best 26 points in the effort as the Lobos shot 47 percent from the floor at 33-of-70.

Sully started the game on a 5-0 run with a layup and three-pointer by B.J. Hollis (Brady/BHS).

A layup by the Tigers' Robby Dooley swung the lead to the home team by an 8-7 margin with 15:33 left in the first half.

East Texas Baptist then sported a 6-0 run that ended on a scoop shot by Darrice Whitley at 13:35.

The Tigers never relinquished the lead although Sul Ross pulled to within a point three times down the stretch.

A 4-0 sprint by the home team sent ETBU to the break with a 41-36 favor.

Another 4-0 run by East Texas Baptist put the Tigers ahead 45-36 to start the second period.

Sully clawed its way down to a one-point deficit before a finger roll by C.J. Ross (Austin/Akins) gave the Lobos a 57-56 go ahead.

Sul Ross then broke away with an 11-0 attack that was finished up by a three-pointer by Jola Otubu (McKinney/North) at the 7:49 mark.

The Lobos held ETBU to a six-point margin as the Tigers' Gosey Jordan banked on the first of two free throws at 4:57.

A three-point bucket by Conner Dawson (Tilden/McMullen County) extended Sully's lead to nine with 3:43 left in the game.

With less than a minute remaining in regulation, East Texas Baptist battled its way down to a five point-deficit.  

The Tigers' Nathan Fontenot drained a time-expiring, transition three-pointer that ended the game with Sul Ross claiming the 82-80 victory.

Ross and Dawson finished with 12 and 11 points respectively while Stephen Walker (Houston/Taylor) collected a team-high nine rebounds.

Sul Ross will take on Lubbock Christian University at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday from LCU's Rip Griffin Center.