SHAWNEE, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team kept on the winning side in 2019-20, defeating Nebraska-Kearney 86-78 in the final game of the Central Region Challenge, hosted by Oklahoma Baptist.

Scoring

• First Half: 45-41
  • The Lopers (0-2) opened the game with an 8-2 run in the first 2:30 minutes
  • UNK kept up the pressure and increased the lead to 10 (20-10), with 14:22 left
  • The Tigers (2-0) kept the deficit between 8-5 points for the next four minutes
  • ECU then fought back and tied the game at 29, with 5:23 left in the half
  • The Tigers used a 9-2 run to take a four-point advantage
  • The Lopers fought back to tie the game at 35
    • Ties followed at 39 and 41
  • ECU then went on a 4-2 run to end the half ahead
• Second Half: 41-37
  • UNK quickly tied the game at 45 in the first 1:30 minutes and then took a 51-46 lead in the first four minutes
  • The Lopers kept the lead between 2-7 points until 12:30 minutes were left on the clock
  • The Tigers followed with an 8-0 run over the next 1:30 minutes to earn a six-point lead
  • ECU held the lead between 4-6 points through the first 15 minutes
  • UNK then went on a 4-0 run to tie the game at 76 (3:59 remaining)
  • The Tigers then took control for good, with a 7-0 run over the next two minutes
  • ECU increased the lead to as many as eight in the final two minutes

Tiger Quick Shots

• Sr. Camron Talley recorded his fourth career game with 30+ points in a single game
  • 34 points, .500 (12-of-24) FG%, .428 (6-of-14) 3PT FG%, 1.000 (4-of-4) FT%, 4 assists
  • vs. SWOSU: 30 pts (2018-19)   
  • vs. Southwest Baptist: 32 pts (2018-19)
  • vs. Southeastern (2017-18)
• Jr. Josh Apple led the team on the glass
  • 13 rebounds, 3 points, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 5 steals
• So. Tylor Arnold added a double-digit point total
  • 17 points, 4 rebounds, .700 (7-of-10) FG %, 1.000 (2-of-2) 3PT FG%, 4 assists, 2 steals
• One key difference for the Tigers came in points off turnovers and second-chance points
  • Points off Turnovers: ECU – 22 / UNK – 13
  • Second-Chance Points: ECU – 9 / UNK – 2

Up Next

• ECU will remain on the road for two games before opening the season at home
  • Saturday, Nov. 16 at McKendree (Illinois) – 3 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 21 at Southwestern Oklahoma State – 7:30 p.m.
    • First Great American Conference game of the year
• The Tigers will then open the year at home
  • Saturday, Nov. 23 vs. Southern Nazarene – 3 p.m.