SEARCY, Ark. – In a gym that is known to not be friendly to visiting opponents, the East Central University men's basketball team will come home with an 88-81 victory over Harding at Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

Scoring

• 1^st Half: 48-36
  • The teams traded shots for the first 1:30 minutes, with the Bisons (3-8, 1-4 GAC) leading, 5-4
  • The Tigers (4-7, 2-3 GAC) then went on an 8-3 run over the next two minutes to gain the advantage (12-8)
  • Harding kept fighting and cut the deficit to one (15-14) over the next two minutes
  • ECU then made another push and used a 11-2 run over the next six minutes to earn a 26-16 advantage
  • The Tigers kept the lead between 8-12 the rest of the stanza
• 2^nd Half:
  • The teams traded small runs throughout the stanza
  • Harding managed to cut the deficit to six (51-45) in the first three minutes
  • ECU followed with a push to gain a 15-point lead seven minutes later
  • With 6:30 left to play, the Bisons went on a 15-2 run to cut the disadvantage to two (75-73) over the next four minutes
  • The Tigers roared back with a 7-0 run to push the lead back to 9 (82-73), with 36 seconds remaining
  • ECU kept the advantage on their side the remaining seconds in the game
    • Lead remained between 5-8

Tiger Quick Shots

• The win moved the Tigers win streak over the Bisons to nine games
  • 4-0 in the last four road games
• Max Pendery becomes the second-straight coach for ECU to defeat Harding on the road in their first time in Searcy, Ark.
  • Second of five to get the opportunity since 1994
• Both teams shot well during the game
  • FG: ECU – 31-of-63 (49%) / HU 27-of-65 (42%)
  • 3PT FG: ECU 6-of-20 (30%) / HU 14-of-26 (54%)
  • FT: ECU – 20-of-26 (77%) / HU 13-of-17 (76%)
• Both teams suffered 13 turnovers, but the Tigers stole 10 of those from Harding, while only allowing three steals
  • Points off Turnovers: ECU – 21 / HU – 12
• ECU also held a clear advantage on the boards
  • ECU - 44 / HU – 31
    • Offensive Rebounds: ECU – 12 / HU – 8
    • Second Chance Points: ECU – 17 / HU – 9
• RSr. Josh Apple claimed his seventh career double-double and second in 2021-22
  • 23 pts., 10 reb., 1 assist, 2 steals, 10-of-16 FG, 2-of-4 3PT FG
    • Career high for points, field goals made and three-point field goals made
• Apple was one of four players to earn double-digit point totals against the Bisons
  • RFr. Brennen Burns: 17 pts., 2 reb., 3 assists, 4-of-5 FG, 1-of-1 3PT FG, 8-of-8 FT
    • Career high for free throws made
  • Sr. Jalen Crutchfield: 14 pts., 6 reb., 1 assist, 2 blocks, 2 steals, 4-of-6 FG
    • Career high for blocks
  • Fr. AJ Ferguson, Jr.: 11 pts., 5 reb., 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 4-of-8 FG
    • Career high for rebounds and blocks

Up Next

• The Tigers were scheduled to face Arkansas Tech, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022
  • Game has been postponed due to COVID-19 protocols
• ECU will next be in action next week at the Kerr Activities Center
  • Thursday, Jan. 6 vs. Southern Arkansas – 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Jan. 8 vs. Arkansas-Monticello – 3 p.m.