ADA – In the opening game of the 2017-18 season, the East Central University men's basketball team claimed a 90-86 overtime victory over Arkansas Tech in Great American Conference action at the Kerr Activities Center.

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The Tigers (1-0, 1-0 GAC) were led by junior Da'Rion King, who tallied his first double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.  Senior Brett Cannon added a team-best 12 points, with seven assists and five rebounds.

The Wonder Boys (2-1, 0-1 GAC) jumped out to an early 9-2 advantage in the first two minutes.  The teams traded runs over the next five minutes before ECU started a 9-0 run to take a three-point advantage, with 8:08 left in the half.  The teams traded points, with no team leading by more than five points before the Tigers took a 40-38 lead into the locker room.

ECU came out firing and scored the first six points of the second stanza for an eight-point lead (46-38), with 18:03 left.  The teams battled until ATU went on an 8-1 run to knot the score at 48, with 14:25 left on the clock.  The teams traded points and small runs, with no one leading by more than four points, before then ended regulation tied at 77.

The Wonder Boys were the first to score in the extra session, setting up a battle for control through the first three minutes.  With 1:25 left to play, Cannon hit a shot in the paint to give the Tigers the lead for good.  That shot started a 6-0 run to end the game with a 90-86 victory.

ECU will now get ready to host Harding, Saturday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. at the Kerr Activities Center.