EL PASO, TEXAS – In the second-straight day of exhibition play, the East Central University men's basketball team fell to UTEP 66-78.

The Tigers were led by senior Stirling Thomas, who was one of four players in double-digits in the point's column.  Thomas ended the game with 17 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. 

Senior Deron Hill added 12 points, junior Braxton Reeves 11 and junior Brett Cannon 10.  Junior Ben Brown-White led ECU in the rebounding column with nine.

ECU kept the game close throughout the first half, trailing by as many as eight and as little as two.  With 4:45 left to play, the Tigers had cut the deficit to two (24-26).  However, that is when the Miners started a push and went on a 13-2 run to end the half with a 26-39 advantage.

In the second half UTEP pushed out to lead by 13 points, but the Tigers were able to cut the deficit back to four (56-60) with 5:42 left to play.  ECU kept things close until the last two minutes when the Miners made the most of their free throw attempts to push the lead back out and earn the 66-78 victory.

The Tigers will now get ready for the official start of the 2015-16 season when they participate in the GAC/NSIC Challenge, Nov. 13-14 in Warrensburg, Mo.  ECU will first face Concordia-St. Paul, Friday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m.