WEATHERFORD, Okla. – For the third-straight game, the East Central University men's basketball team made a late come-back run, but ended up falling at Southwestern Oklahoma State, 76-73, in overtime.

Scoring

• 1^st Half: 26-37
  • The Bulldogs (2-5, 1-2 GAC) got on the board first and did not give up the advantage in the half
  • The Tigers (2-6, 1-2 GAC) fought and were within two (8-6), with 15:30 minutes left on the clock
  • SWOSU followed with a 7-0 run in the next two minutes to push the advantage to nine (15-6)
  • ECU kept the deficit around 10 for the remaining time in the period
• 2^nd Half: 38-27 (64-64)
  • The Tigers started their fight from the start of the second half
    • Opened with a 4-0 run in the first minute
  • The teams traded shots for the next minute
  • ECU then used a 15-4 run to take take a 47-45 advantage (13 remaining)
    • The Tigers held the Bulldogs without a field goal during the span
  • From there it was a tight battle, with no team leading by more than four points
  • The game was knotted at 64 after an ECU free throw, with 1:42 remaining
  • Both teams turned up the defense and neither team scored in the time left to force overtime
• OT: 12-9 (73-76)
  • The Tigers opened the stand on a 5-0 run in the first two minutes
  • The Bulldogs were held without a field goal though the first four minutes in overtime
    • Scored five at the free-throw line
  • SWOSU's first field goal knotted the game at 71 (1:47 remaining)
  • The teams then traded layups
  • The Bulldogs then took advantage of a three-point shot to take the lead, with 20 seconds remaining
  • The Tigers had a shot to tie the game, but could not make the connection

Tiger Quick Shots

• First overtime game of the 2021-22 season for the Tigers
  • ECU played one OT game in 2020-21
    • W, 103-102 vs. Southeastern – 2OT
• The difference in the game came from beyond the arc
  • FG: ECU 24-of-62 (38.7%) / SWOSU 25-of-61 (41.0%)
  • 3PT FG: ECU 5-of-17 (29.4%) / SWOSU 10-of-27 (37.0%)
  • FT: ECU 20-of-26 (76.9%) / SWOSU 16-of-27 (59.3%)
    • Season high for free-throws made
• The Tigers came out with a clear advantage on the glass: 46-37
• The Bulldogs took better advantage of miscues
  • Turnovers: ECU 15 / SWOSU 9
  • Points off Turnovers: ECU 6 / SWOSU 13
• RSr. Josh Apple claimed the team's first double-double of the season
  • Sixth career double-double
    • 12 pts., 11 reb., 2 assists, 1 steal
• Apple was one five players to scored in double digits, with two pother players just missing adding a double-double
  • So. Shemar Smith: 21 pts., 9 reb., .583 (7-of-12) FG, 1.000 (6-of-6) FT
    • Career high for points and free-throws made
  • Sr. Romello Wilbert: 12 pts., 9 reb., 4 assists, 1 steal, .500 (3-of-6) FG, .750 (6-of-8) FT
    • Career high for free-throws made
  • Sr. Jalen Crutchfield: 10 pts., 4 reb., 1 assist, .364 (4-of-11) FG
  • Fr. AJ Ferguson, Jr.: 10 pts., 2 reb., 3 assists, 1 steal, .800 (4-of-5) FG, .500 (1-of-2) 3PT FG

Up Next

• The Tigers return home for the final game in 2021 at the Kerr Activities Center
  • Tuesday, Dec. 14 vs. Southwestern Christian – 7 p.m.
• ECU will then start a three-game road trip over the break
  • Saturday, Dec.18 at Oklahoma Baptist – 7 p.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 30 at Harding – 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Jan. 1 at Arkansas Tech – 3 p.m.