BOX SCORE AUSTIN,Texas-  The Concordia Texas men's basketball team dropped a close game against East Texas Baptist University, 67-62. The Tornados had their best defensive output of the season and junior guard Donovan Stafford tallied a game-high 26 points inside the CTX Fieldhouse on Thursday.
 
Sophomore guard Branden Myart darted in a great pass to Robert Hall and laid it up for the Tornados first points of the game. Stafford with a quick burst to get a huge block and drive it down the court darting it to Ibrahima Diallo to sink in a jumper and extend the early lead for CTX and go on a 12-4 run.
 
Back-and-forth battle about midway through the first half and a great defensive matchup on both sides for a score, 14-9.
 
An assist by Diallo to Hall who continued his dominant play with a soft touch off the glass to make it an 8 point advantage. Coming down to 6 minutes left of the first half Stafford powers into the paint with a great spin move to drop it in for his 8^th point of the game.
 
With only 20 seconds left until the half Colby Kalbacher drawn a last second foul and sink in the free throw for a score of 27-26 going into intermission.
 
Coming out of halftime both teams continued to fight hard in a back and forth scoring battle up until midway through the second-half. Hall continue to dominate in the paint with the powerful layup in the 11th minute to tie the game 40-40.
 
 In a tight matchup a great pass by Kalbacher to Hall for another huge bucket for his 12^th point of the game to tie it once again, 47-47. Huge three by number 14 in the fourth minute of the game to put Concordia in the led 52-51.
 
Coming down to the last minutes of the game ETBU goes on an 8-2 run to take the lead 59-54. Huge block by Luis Gonzalez to keep CTX in the fight with a minute and seven to go in the match.
 
Under a minute left to go Stafford drives into the paint to draw the foul and make it a five point game. Stafford immediately responds with only 20 seconds left hitting a clutch three off the right wink to bring the score 59-63. ETBU Would go on to claim the conference matchup win for a final score of 67-62.
 
Concordia Texas will be back at home and prepare to host LeTourneau on Saturday December 9^th at 3:00 PM.
 
BOX SCORE STANDOUT
Donovan Stafford 26 Pts, 4 Rebs, 2 Ast, 1 Blk
Robert Hall 12 Pts, 7 Rebs
Ibrahima Diallo 7 Pts, 4 Rebs, 1 Stl
 
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX men's basketball program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu