ECU's Darnell Davis (24) puts up a shot during his 23-point performance in ECU's 75-70 home win over Ouachita Baptist on Thursday night. (Photo by Gina Smith).ECU men secure first GAC victory
February 2, 2012ADA – East Central University closed the game with an 8-0 run in the final 1:45 as the Tigers secured their first Great American Conference men’s basketball victory with a 75-70 decision over visiting Ouachita Baptist Thursday night on Wayne Cobb Court inside the Kerr Activities Center.
Back-to-back post-up layups by Darnell Davis and Hayden Darst along with four Caprest Rhone free throws in the final 28 seconds enabled ECU to go to 4-15 on the season and 1-8 in the GAC.
Davis poured in a game-high 23 points and pulled down nine rebounds as he knocked down 9-of-13 shots from the floor and 5-of-6 free shots. Five of his boards came off the offensive glass as he also blocked four shots in the game.
Dylan Lemley and Rhone finished with 11 points each as Lemley sank a pair of 3-pointers and dished out two assists. Rhone also pulled down nine rebounds and collected six assists, despite committing eight turnovers.
Bobby McAdoo, on the strength of three treys, finished with nine points and Darst ended up with eight points to go with a pair of steals.
The Tigers shot 47.1 percent for the game, including 40.9 (9-of-22) from 3-point territory. ECU did connect at a 58.3 percent pace from the floor in the second half (14-of-24).
OBU hit at only a 38.7 percent pace for the game, including just 26.1 (6-of-23) from beyond the arc. The visitors did can 84.2 percent (16-of-19) of their free throws.
Austin Mitchell paced OBU with 17 points, including two treys, while Emmanuel Engulu and Julian LaDay finished with 13 points apiece.
OBU had a 36-33 edge on the boards and had three less turnovers than ECU, 11-14.
The 8-0 flurry by the hosts down the stretch began when Davis’ layup off a Rhone assist pulled ECU within 70-69 with 1:45 remaining. OBU misfired on a 3-pointer on the other end as Rhone snatched the rebound.
Jake Rudd then made a nifty fee to Darst, who executed a layup, to put the hosts on top for good with 51 seconds remaining.
A Darst steal in the post area led to two Rhone free shots on the other end to make it 73-70 with 28 seconds to go.
Again, OBU came up empty on a long-range try on the other end as Rhone hustled for the rebound again, was fouled and promptly drilled both charity tosses to seal it at 75-70 with 16.6 seconds left.
OBU attempted two 3-point shots in the waning seconds but both tries came up empty.
The host Tigers enjoyed an early 17-6 advantage as OBU tallied just six points through the first 10 minutes of the opening half. But OBU went on a 26-15 spurt in the final 10 minutes of the half to secure a 32-27 halftime edge.
ECU returns to action on Saturday by hosting Henderson State at 4 p.m. in the Kerr Center in Ada.
