Box Score ADA – The East Central University men's basketball team earned its third-straight win and a season sweep of Harding, with a 74-69 decision at the Kerr Activities Center in Great American Conference action.

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The Tigers (11-6, 8-3 GAC) were led by junior Brandon Lucas, with 15 points and four rebounds.  Senior Colby Carr added 11 points and eight boards, while senior Chris Fisher and redshirt freshman Aly Hudgins each contributed 11 points.


Like the women's game earlier in the day, it was all about defense in the opening 2:30, before Harding scored the first points.  The teams battled over the next minute before ECU took its first lead, with a 5-0 run.  Harding kept the score close with a 4-0 run, but the Tigers held onto the advantage for the rest of the half.  Both teams used several runs throughout the opening half, but ECU went into the locker room with a 36-31 advantage.

The Bisons (9-8, 6-5 GAC) came out fighting in the second half and used a 9-5 run to cut the lead to one (41-40), in the first three minutes.  The Tigers then used a 7-1 run over the next three minutes to push the lead back out to seven.

ECU pushed the advantage out to 11, with 11:54 remaining and kept the lead between 7-10 points for the next three minutes.  That is when the Bisons made a key push, using a 9-0 run to tie the game at 59, with 5:29 left to play.

The teams battled through the next three minutes to another tie, this time at 69.  From there it was all Tigers, as ECU used a 5-0 run in the final 1:43 to earn the 74-69 win.

ECU had a strong night shooting, hitting 50.9 (27-of-53) percent of their overall shots and 41.7 (10-of-24) of their triples.  The night seemed like a three-point shooting contest, with Harding going 14-of-34 (41.2%) from beyond the arc for the game.

The Tigers will now hit the road for two games in Arkadelphia, Ark., Jan. 30-Feb. 1.  ECU will first battle Henderson State, Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m.