ADA, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team will play its first two Great American Conference games of the 2021-22 campaign this weekend. The Tigers (1-4) will open at Southern Nazarene, Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and then welcome Northwestern Oklahoma State, Saturday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m., to the Kerr Activities Center.
Tiger Quick Shots
• The Tigers will open the Great American Conference portion of the year at Southern Nazarene
• First time that ECU and the Crimson Storm will play the first league game of the season
• The Tigers are 5-5 in GAC openers
• Played the last three against Southwestern Oklahoma State
• Also faced Southern Arkansas, Henderson State, Arkansas-Monticello and Ouachita Baptist in the season openers
• ECU is 29-23 since 1969-70 in conference opening games
• The Tigers have four players averaging double-digits in the points column this season
• RSr.
Josh Apple: 17.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 14 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, .558 (24-of-43) FG%
• Sr.
Jalen Crutchfield: 14.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4 assists, 5 steals, 1 block, .554 (26-of-47) FG%, .538 (14-of-26) 3PT FG%
• So.
Shemar Smith: 11.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, .533 (8-of-15) FG%
• Jr.
Ellis Lee, Jr.: 10.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3 assists, 2 steals, .405 (17-of-42) FG%
• All 11 ECU players have recorded a rebound this season and all but one have scored or have an assist
• Only two have not garnered a steal
• The Tigers picked up their first win of the season, Nov. 22 at the Kerr Activities Center
• Defeated Arkansas Baptist, 114-52
• First victory for head coach
Max Pendery
• 12th head coach in men's basketball history
• First 100+ point game for the Tigers since Jan. 25, 2021
• 75th 100+ point game in team history
• 3rd 100+ point game with Arkansas Baptist
• Apple is ranked No. 9 on the ECU Career Field Goal Pct. Top-10 list - .581
• Also close to joining the top-10 blocks list
• No. 10 is current held by Chuck Liston (1993-97) - 42
• Apple has 40 career blocks
• ECU radio broadcaster Kenny Morrison is working his 25th consecutive season for the
Tigers and his 35th year as a radio broadcaster in the Ada area
• Will be inducted into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame Jan. 28, 2022
