DURANT, Okla. – In a game that saw 15 ties and nine lead changes, the East Central University men's basketball team claimed a 115-113 double-overtime victory over arch rival Southeastern Oklahoma State at Bloomer Sullivan Arena.

Scoring

• 1^st Half: 50-45
  • The Savage Storm (11-3, 6-2 GAC) jumped out to an early 11-2 lead, in the first 4 minutes
  • The Tigers (6-8, 4-4 GAC) used several small runs over the next five minutes to get within three (21-18)
  • The disadvantage was held between 3-5 for the next two minutes
  • SEOSU then used a 7-2 run to push the lead back out to 10 (37-27), with 6 minutes left
  • ECU then took control of the momentum and went on a 15-2 run to take a 42-39 advantage, over the next 2:30 minutes
  • The Tigers kept pushing and led by as many as eight (48-40), with just under two minutes remaining
  • The Savage Storm fought back in the remaining time and got, within three before ECU finished the stanza with a five-point advantage
• 2^nd Half: 44-49 (94-94)
  • SEOSU came out strong and tied the game at 52, in the first 1:30 minutes
  • The teams traded shots and small runs throughout the stanza
    • No team led by more than five until the final 7:30 minutes
    • ECU mounted a 6-0 run to take a nine-point advantage (85-77) in the next 1:30 minutes
  • The Tigers kept the advantage on their side of the scoreboard until the final 10 seconds when the Savage Storm knotted the game at 94
  • SESOU still had fouls to give before sending ECU to the charity stripe and the Tigers missed a shot with one second left to force overtime
• OT: 7-7 (101-101)
  • The Savage Storm went on a 6-0 run in the first 2:30 of the extra period to lead by six (100-94)
  • The final 2:30 minutes went in favor of ECU, as they used a 7-1 run to force a second overtime session
• 2OT: 14-12 (115-113)
  • The teams traded the first two shots
  • SEOSU then took the lead with a 3-0 run and kept the advantage on their side of the scoreboard, until 1:30 remained
  • The Tigers tied tie game at 108, but were not able to take the lead
  • The Savage Storm regained the lead, with 1:15 left to play
  • ECU then used a 4-0 run to take a 112-110 advantage
  • SEOSU had a chance to tie the game, with 30 second left on the clock, but missed the second of two free throws
  • A Tiger turnover led to a layup by the Savage Storm with 8 ticks left
  • ECU rushed down the court and a jumper from RFr. Brennen Burns gave them back the lead with 4 seconds left to play
  • Jr. AJ Ferguson then sealed the game with a steal and drawing a foul, with 0.7 left on the clock
    • Made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second to allow time to run out

Tiger Quick Shots

• The teams combined for over 200 points for the third time since 2018 and the first time at Bloomer Sullivan Arena
  • Jan. 16, 2018 – W, 120-86 (H)
  • Jan. 25, 2021 – W, 103-102 (2OT) (H)
  • Jan. 13, 2022 - W, 115-113 (2OT) (A)
    • Most points in a single game in the series
• Sixth overtime game in the all-time series that dates back to 1927-28
  • The second double-overtime game
• Second overtime and first double-overtime game in 2021-22
  • Dec. 11, 2021 at Southwestern – L, 73-76 (OT)
• RSr. Josh Apple and So. Shemar Smith both earned a double-double in the outing
  • Apple: 31 pts., 10 reb., 2 assists, 1 block, 13-of-24 FG, 2-of-4 3PT FG, 3-of-4 FT
    • Career high for points (previous high was 22) and field goals made
    • Ninth career double-double, third of the season and second-straight
  • Smith: 10 pts., 11 reb., 1 block, 4-of-10 FG, 2-of-2 FT
    • Career high for rebounds and blocks
• RFr. Brennen Burns and Fr. AJ Ferguson, Jr. also had career games
  • Burns: 25 pts., 5 reb., 5 assists, 1 block, 1 steal, 11-of-13 FG, 3-of-3 FT
    • Career high for points, blocks and field goals made
  • Ferguson, Jr.: 13 pts., 6 reb., 4 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals, 5-of-11 FG
    • Career highs for rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
• Sr. Jakeem Acres and Jr. Ellis Lee, Jr., both added double-digit point totals
  • Acres: 14 pts., 2 reb., 1 assist, 5-of-6 FG, 2-of-3 3PT FG, 2-of-2 FT
  • Lee, Jr.: 11 pts., 3 reb., 1 steal, 4-of-7 FG, 3-of-6 3PT FG
• The game came down to a few more made shots and a clear advantage on the boards
  • FG: ECU 47-of-82 (57.3%) / SEOSU 45-of-85 (52.9%)
  • 3PT FG: ECU 9-of-25 (36.0%) / SEOSU 8-of-22 (36.4%)
  • Rebounds: ECU 46 (9-37) / SEOSU 35 (7-28)
  • Second Chance Points: ECU 15 / SEOSU 11

Up Next

• The Tigers will return to the Kerr Activities Center for their next outing
  • Saturday, Jan. 15 vs. Southern Nazarene – 3 p.m.
    • Starts the second half of the GAC season
• ECU will then hit the road for three games in Arkansas
  • Thursday, Jan. 20 at Henderson State – 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Jan. 22 at Ouachita Baptist – 3 p.m.
  • Monday, Jan. 24 at Arkansas Tech – 5:30 p.m.
    • Rescheduled game from Jan. 1, 2022