Box Score ADA – The East Central University men's basketball team used a 31-of-47 mark from the charity stripe to push them past Henderson State, 78-68, in Great American Conference action at the Kerr Activities Center.

Photo Gallery

The Tigers (15-6, 9-4 GAC) were paced by senior Henry Pwono, who tallied his sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds.  Junior Stirling Thomas led the team with 24 points, including a 17-of-21 mark from the free-throw line.  Redshirt sophomore Donovan Halsel also came up big for ECU, with a career-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc.

The teams traded runs in the opening four minutes of the game and kept things close and fast paced throughout the game.  No team led by more than five in the opening half, with the Tigers and the Reddies (9-11, 6-8 GAC) battling to a 32-all tie, with 1:30 left to play.  Sophomore A.J. Moutry hit a triple with 1:12 remaining to give ECU a 35-32 lead heading into the break.

HSU came out firing in the second half, going on a 9-4 run in the first 6:15 to earn a 39-43 advantage.  The Tigers quickly tied the game at 43 and then put together an 18-2 run over the next six minutes to lead 61-45.  The Reddies didn't give up and used a 10-1 run over the next two minutes to get within seven (62-55). 

ECU kept the advantage between seven to 10 points until three minutes remained in the game.  That is when HSU used a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to four (69-65).  However, a quick 5-0 response from the Tigers allowed them to pull away for good, as they held on to an eight to 10 point lead for the rest of the game and won 78-68.

While ECU went 31-of-47 from the charity stripe, they also allowed the Reddies to make just 16 trips (11 made).  The Tigers also hit seven triples to three by HSU to help with the win.

The Tigers will remain at home for one more game before hitting the road for the final full road weekend of GAC action.  ECU will host Arkansas-Monticello, Saturday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. in the Kerr Activities Center.