ADA – In the first home game of the 2014-15 season, the East Central University men's basketball team fell to Rogers State, 70-84, in non-conference action at the Kerr Activities Center.

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The Tigers (3-2, 2-0 GAC) were led by junior Stirling Thomas, with 19 points and three steals.  Senior Brandon Lucas added 15 points, two assists and three rebounds.  Junior Deron Hill was also strong for ECU with seven points and five rebounds.

The Tigers had a solid start to the game, holding the Hillcats (3-2) without a field goal until 17:50 and scoring eight points of their own.  However, RSU followed with a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to cut the deficit to one (10-9). 

The Hillcats kept pushing back and used a 6-0 over 3:30 minutes to garner a 15-19 advantage. The teams then traded runs and baskets the rest of the half and ended the first 20 minutes knotted at 30.

The second half saw an opposite start from the first, with RSU going on a 14-2 run in the first 4:30 minutes to earn a 32-44 advantage.  ECU cut the lead to seven (39-46), over the next two minutes, but were unable to get any closer the rest of the half.  The Hillcats kept pushing the tempo and increased their lead out to as many as 25 on the way to the 70-84 victory.

Free-throw shooting was the key for both teams in the game.  The Tigers went just 15-of-26 from the charity stripe, while RSU hit 30-of-36 shots.

ECU will now get ready for its second tournament of the season, as they will be participating in the Doubletree Houlihans/Drury Thanksgiving Classic in Springfield, Mo., Friday, Nov. 28-Saturday, Nov. 29.  The tournament is hosted by Drury University, where head coach Ja Havens spent eight seasons as an assistant coach before joining the ECU program last season.

The Tigers will battle with Missouri Western State, Friday and Cameron, Saturday, with both games set for 1 p.m.