WEATHERFORD, OKLA. – The East Central University men's basketball team fell 66-78 to Southwestern Oklahoma State on the road in Great American Conference action.
Photo GalleryThe Tigers (14-6, 8-4 GAC) were led by redshirt sophomore
Braxton Reeves and junior
Stirling Thomas, each with 21 points. Senior
Henry Pwono added 11 points and a team-high six rebounds.
The opening eight minutes of the game were close, with no team leading by more than four. The Bulldogs (11-8, 5-7 GAC) were the first to go on a run and took a 15-21 advantage over the next three minutes. The Tigers kept fighting and came back to tie the game at 23, with 7:13 remaining.
After trading three's SWOSU used a 13-2 run over the next six minutes to push the lead to 39-28. In the final time ECU made a push to the end of the half with a 4-0 run for a 32-39 score.
After the Bulldogs made their first shot of the second half, the Tigers came fighting back and tied the game at 42, with 16:34 remaining on a 6-0 run. The teams kept the score close over the next 6:30 minutes before ECU used a 7-0 run over a minutes span to take its first lead of the half 55-52.
SWOSU kept pushing back and eventually tied the game at 64, with an 8-3 run over a two minute span. The Bulldogs continued to increase the pressure and regained the lead after going on a 14-2 run in the final time for the 66-78 victory.
The Tigers struggled to make shots late in the game, making 38.9 percent (21-of-54) of their shots for the game, while the Bulldogs shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52) from the field.
ECU will now return home to get ready for a two-game home stand. The Tigers will first host Henderson State, Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. and then Arkansas-Monticello, Saturday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. in the Kerr Activities Center.
