ADA, Okla. – For the second-straight Great American Conference outing, the East Central University men's basketball team made a late push to overcome a double-digit deficit.  However, this time the Tigers (2-5, 1-1 GAC) came up just short, falling to Northwestern Oklahoma State, 73-71, at the Kerr Activities Center.

Photo Gallery

Scoring

• 1^st Half: 28-39
  • The Rangers (5-2, 1-1 GAC) scored quickly and held ECU off the scoreboard for the first two minutes
  • The teams kept things close for the next minute
  • NWOSU then started a 9-0 run to gain an eight-point advantage
  • The teams traded shots for the next six minutes
  • The Rangers then made another push and were able to get the lead up to as many as 17 over the next five minutes
  • Over the next four minutes, the Tigers pushed back and got within nine (37-28) just before the end of the stanza
• 2^nd Half: 41-34 (71-73)
  • In the first four minutes ECU kept up the pressure and cut the deficit to three (41-38)
  • NWOSU kept the advantage on its side of the scoreboard
    • The Rangers kept the lead between 7-12 points until the final three minutes
  • The Tigers then made their final come-back attempt
    • ECU went on a 7-1 run to tie the score at 71, with four second remaining
  • NWOSU then took advantage of two free shots, with three ticks remaining, to retake the lead
  • The Tigers then made a final attempt, with a three, but it bounced off the rim

Tiger Quick Shots

• Both teams shot well from the floor, but struggled at the free-throw line
  • FG: ECU 23-of-57 (40.4%) / NWOSU 22-of-46 (47.8%)
  • 3PT FG: ECU 8-of-19 (42.1%) / NWOSU 8-of-18 (44.4%)
  • FT: ECU 17-of-25 (68.0%) / NWOSU 21-of-29 (72.4%)
• So. Shemar Smith led a group of four players with double-digit point totals
  • 20 pts., 5 reb., 1 assist, 9-of-14 (64.3%) FG, 2-of-2 3PT FG
    • Career high for points, including his time at Central Oklahoma
    • Also set career highs for assists and field goals made
• Fr. AJ Ferguson, Jr., added 15 pts., 2 reb., 1 assist, 10-of-12 (83.3%) FT
• Sr. Jalen Crutchfield netted 11 pts. and 3 reb.
• Sr. Jakeem Acres added 10 pts., 7 reb., 3 assists, 1 block
  • Career high for rebounds
• Acres and Sr. Romello Wilbert led the team on the glass
  • Wilbert: 2 pts., 7 reb., 2 assists, 1-of-1 FG
• All but one of the nine players to see action scored and had a rebound in the game
   

Up Next

• The Tigers will now get a week off for finals and to prepare to face Southwestern Oklahoma State
  • Saturday, Dec. 11 – 3 p.m.
• ECU will wrap up the home games in 2021 in their next outing
  • Tuesday, Dec. 14 vs. Southwestern Christian – 7 p.m.
• The final game before the holiday break is set at Oklahoma Baptist
  • Saturday, Dec. 18 – 7 p.m.