MAGNOLIA, ARK. – The East Central University men's basketball team moved its Great American Conference record to 3-0, with an 84-69 victory over Southern Arkansas.

The Tigers (3-1, 3-0 GAC) saw five players record over 10 points in the game, with sophomore Camron Talley leading the group with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal.  Junior Marcus Lytle and senior Jeremiah Fleming both added 14 points, while senior Brett Cannon netted 12 and junior Da'Rion King 11.

ECU had a strong shooting day, hitting 44.4 percent (24-of-54) of their overall shots and 45.7 percent (16-of-35) of those taken beyond the arc.  The Tigers also held SAU to a 36.8 overall percentage and a 15.4 percent mark from three-point range.

The Muleriders (3-4, 0-3 GAC) started quickly, taking a 4-1 lead in the first 1:30.  However, ECU responded with a 13-2 run over the next five minutes for a 14-6 advantage.  The Tigers increased the lead to double-digits with 11:45 left in the stanza (20-9).

Over the next five minutes the teams both struggled to score, adding just seven points combined.  When things got started again, SAU used a 6-3 run to cut the deficit to seven (26-19).  The teams traded points the rest of the half, until the final minute when ECU used a 5-2 run to take a 40-29 lead into the locker room. 

The Muleriders came out ready to fight in the second half, going on a 10-0 run in the first four minutes.  The Tigers tallied the next seven points, but SAU followed with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to two (47-45), with 13 minutes left to play.

The teams traded shots until the midway point of the half, before ECU fought back to push the lead back to nine (63-54).  The Tigers pushed the lead back out to as many as 19, with several runs on the way to the 84-69 victory.

ECU will now head to Arkansas-Monticello for a match-up between the two teams that claimed the GAC regular-season title a year ago.  The Tigers and the Boll Weevils will battle at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2.