ADA, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team played a second close game against Southeastern Oklahoma State at the Kerr Activities Center in the 2020-21 season.  After a 103-102 double-overtime win earlier this season, the Tigers (8-7, 8-7 GAC) claimed a 66-64 victory over the Savage Storm (7-8, 7-8 GAC).

Photo Gallery

Scoring

• 1^st Half: 36-23
  • ECU opened the game on a 14-2 run, in the first six minutes
  • The Tigers kept up the pressure throughout the half and kept the lead around 10 points for most of the remaining time
  • Largest lead was 17 (36-19), with 2:22 left on the clock
  • SEOSU finished the half on a 4-0 run
• 2^nd Half: 30-41 (66-64)
  • The Savage Storm continued the run in the first two minutes
    • Went to 11-0, to cut the deficit to six (36-30)
  • The teams then traded runs through the next three minutes, with ECU leading by 11
  • The Savage Storm then started a 15-3 run, over the next five minutes to gain their first lead of the game (49-48)
  • The battle resumed with several tie scores and no team leading by more than two possessions
    • ECU lead by as many as 5, SEOSU by 1
  • The final tie came at 63-all, with just under three minutes left to play
  • Sr. Josh Apple then hit a layup to give the Tigers a one-point lead (65-64), with 51 seconds left
  • The Savage Storm missed a shot on their next possession and were forced to foul
  • Sr. Matt Garriga then hit a free-throw, with 5.6 left to play, to give ECU the extra advantage

Tiger Quick Shots

• Sr. Matt Garriga led a trio of players with double-digit point totals
  • Garriga: 17 pts., 5 reb., 6-of-10 (.600) FG, 4-of-7 (.571) 3PT FG
  • Jr. Jalen Crutchfield: 15 pts., 5 reb., 1 steal, 5-of-10 (.500) FG, 3-of-6 (.500) 3PT FG
  • Sr. Josh Apple: 14 pts., 6 reb., 1 assist, 7-of-13 (.538) FG
• The Tigers earned a clear advantage on the glass
  • ECU: 8-32=40 / SEOSU 3-26=29
    • Led to a 15-3 lead in second chance points
    • The Tigers also committed just six turnovers to 15 by the Savage Storm
• Three-point shooting also became a key difference
  • ECU 10-of-21 (47.6%) / SEOSU 5-of-21 (23.8%)

Up Next

• ECU will play its final regular-season home game, Thursday, Feb. 25
  • vs. Oklahoma Baptist – 7:30 p.m.
    • Annual Senior Day: Matt Garriga
    • Ceremony will take place between the men's and women's games
• The Tigers will then round out the 2020-21 regular season, Saturday, Feb. 27 at Northwestern Oklahoma State – 4 p.m.
• The 2020-21 Great American Conference Tournament will start March 1, with top seeds hosting games