The East Central University men's basketball team is preparing for a big week in Great American Conference action, as the Tigers host the other two teams in the top-three in the league standings.  ECU will first host Southern Arkansas (third), Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kerr Activities Center.

Game Notes

The Broadcast
ECU's radio home for Tigers basketball in 2012-13 is Ada's KXFC, 105.5, FM 'The X-Factor'. Kenny Morrison returns to broadcast the games for his 18th season. Morrison, a 1987 ECU graduate, spent two seasons doing color prior to taking over the play-by-play duties during the 1997-98 season.  

The Coverage
Fans who can't be at the game can find links to live stats, live video (if available) and the KXFC radio broadcast on ECUTigers.com.  Go to the men's basketball schedule page. Fans can listen to the radio broadcast online or through the FREE KXFC App available in ITunes, Google Stores where apps are sold and www.kxfcradio.com.

Scouting Southern Arkansas
The Muleriders are 7-4 overall and 4-1 in the GAC after winning their last three games.  Of the five games they have played against GAC opponents, all but two have resulted in a two-point decision, with the two over two points being wins for SAU.

The Muleriders have a +5.7 scoring and +0.4 rebounding margin for the season and have advantages in overall (.445/.407) and three-point shooting (.363/.335) shooting percentages.  However, they are averaging five fewer (12.6/18.0) free throws per game and are only shooting .539 from the stripe.

SAU has three players that are averaging over 10 points per game, with Chauncy Williams leading the team with 14.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and a .470 overall and .429 three-point shooting mark.  Jaron Davis adds 14.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, while adding 41 assists and 20 steals.  Alre'k Brown is the final player with over 10 points per outing, at 12.6 with a team-best 8.2 boards.

Against the Muleriders
Last season the Tigers earned wins in both meeting with SAU by an average of 9.5 points and they added a +3.5 rebounding margin.  The key to the victories was ECU's .435 overall shooting percentage and SAU's .393 mark.

Sophomore A.J. Moutry leads the Tiger returners with 15.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per outing, while senior Brandon Lucas has one his best series at 12.5 points and 6.0 boards per game.

Tyrell Taylor is the top returner for the Muleriders, with 16.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, while adding a .435 shooting percentage, eight assists and five steals.  Chauncy Williams adds 14.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game form a year ago.

The Series
The Tigers have won the last two games and three-of-the-last four games in the all-time series with the Muleriders and have taken an 11-5 lead.

Hudgins Big Day
Sophomore Aly Hudgins got a chance to show what he is capable of adding to the Tigers team in the game at Southern Nazarene (Jan. 3).  Hudgins tallied a career-best 14 points, going 5-of-5 from the field and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe.  He also added three rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Thomas Player of the Week
ECU junior Stirling Thomas has picked up his first honor of the 2014-15 season, as he was named the Great American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for Nov. 24.  Thomas tallied 22 points and five assists against Arkansas-Monticello. Two days later, he scored 36 points and added seven steals vs Henderson State. His .875 (7-of-8) mark from behind the arc tied a school record for three-point field-goal percentage in a game and he was one steal away from tying the school record for steals in a game.

Revealing Reeves
Redshirt sophomore Braxton Reeves might not have played in the 2013-14 season, but he has stepped right back into his game in 2014-15.  Against Arkansas-Monticello, Reeves tallied a career-best 22 points, while shooting 9-of-14 from the field and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Pwono Player of the Week
After finishing the 2013-14 season as the GAC Player of the Week, senior Henry Pwono has become the first GAC Player of the Week for the 2014-15 season.  At the GAC/Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Challenge, Pwono averaged 20.5 points and 11 rebounds. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native scored 33 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the victory against Wayne State College. He converted on 14-of-18 from the floor, including an 11-of-14 performance against the Wildcats.

Solid Stirling
Junior Stirling Thomas proved that he was a good addition to the Tigers squad as he came out and averaged 21.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in the first two outings of the 2014-15 season.  Thomas shot .441 (15-of-34) from the field, .455 (5-of-11) from beyond the arc and .889 (8-of-9) from the charity stripe, while adding four assists and four steals.

Turning Out for the Exhibition
The Tigers had a strong showing at their exhibition game at Oral Roberts, falling by just seven points (68-75).  ECU led for most of the game and took a 38-33 lead into the locker room at the half.  The Tigers were led by junior Stirling Thomas, with 25 points and five rebounds, while senior Henry Pwono tallied 16 points and 11 rebounds.  The duo were two of four players with double-digit point totals, with redshirt sophomore Braxton Reeves adding 15 and senior Brandon Lucas 10.

Returning Power
While most, including the ECU coaching staff, expected to lose senior Henry Pwono at the end of the 2013-14 season that is not the case.  Pwono had a redshirt available from his season at Seaton Hill and it was approved by the NCAA, so Pwono will be back on the court for the Tigers after averaging 11.9 points and 6.6 boards per game a year ago.  Pwono ended the season with three-straight games where he recorded over 20 points.

Making a Difference Off the Court
On the court is not the only place that you can find a member of ECU men's basketball team.  Since head coach Ja Havens has taken over the program the Tigers have renewed their commitment to community service.  ECU has been a part of several community service projects already this school year, with an emphasis on youth events.  The Tigers have been to several elementary and middle schools in the area to read with the students and to get to know their younger fans.

Up Next
The Tigers will remain at home for a battle with the other top team in the GAC, Ouachita Baptist, who is 4-1 in league play.  The two Tiger teams will battle at 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 10 in the Kerr Activities Center.