ADA, Okla. – In their first game of the 2022 portion of the season, the East Central University men's basketball team claimed in 81-77 victory over Southern Arkansas in Great American Conference action at the Kerr Activities Center.

Photo Gallery

Scoring

• 1^st Half: 30-34
  • The Tigers (5-7, 3-3 GAC) opened the game on a 9-2 run, in the first six minutes
  • The Muleriders (9-4, 5-2 GAC) fought back over the next three minutes to cut the deficit to two (14-12)
  • SAU kept pushing and took a one-point advantage (17-16), with 10:15 left to play
  • The teams traded shots over the next two minutes for a 19-all tie
  • The Muleriders then took control, with a 5-0 run over the next 45 seconds
  • SAU kept the advantage between 4-7 the rest of the half
• 2^nd Half: 51-43 (81-77)
  • Both teams used small runs and traded shots in the opening six minutes
    • ECU trailed 41-47 (14 minutes left)
  • The Tigers then started their push, using an 8-0 run, in the next 1:45, to gain a 49-47 lead
  • The game was quickly tied at 49 and the Muleriders kept pushing, with a 6-2 run, to regain the advantage (55-51)
  • ECU again tied the game at 56 and the game got tight
    • No team led by more than four points, until 2:30 minutes were left to play
  • The Tigers added another 8-0 run to push the advantage to 74-67, with a minute left
  • The teams traded points in the remaining time, but SAU could not get closer than four points

Tiger Quick Shots

• The teams were close in most shooting categories
  • FG: ECU 29-of-57 (50.9%) / SAU 26-of-52 (50%)
  • 3PT FG: ECU 7-of-25 (28%) / SAU 7-of-23 (30.4%)
  • FT: ECU 16-of-23 (69.6%) / SAU 18-of-29 (62.1%)
• Key difference came on the glass
  • Rebounds: ECU 36 / SAU 26
    • Offensive Rebounds: ECU 8 / SAU 4
    • Second Chance Points: ECU 18 / SAU 0
• So. Shemar Smith led a group of four players with double-digit point totals
  • Smith: 22 pts., 7 reb., 1 steal, 8-of-11 FG, 5-of-6 FT
    • Career high for points and steals
  • Sr. Jakeem Acres: 18 pts., 1 reb., 2 assists, 1 steal, 7-of-10 FG, 4-of-6 3PT FG
    • Career best for three-point field goals made
  • RSr. Josh Apple: 13 pts., 9 reb., 3 assists, 1 steal, 5-of-15 FG
  • Fr. AJ Ferguson, Jr.: 12 pts., 3 reb., 1 assist, 1 steal, 4-of-7 FG, 3-of-3 FT

Up Next

• The Tigers will remain at home for their next game
  • Saturday, Jan. 8 vs. Arkansas-Monticello – 3 p.m.
• ECU will then split the next week on the road and at home
  • Thursday, Jan. 13 at Southeastern – 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Jan. 15 vs. Southern Nazarene – 3 p.m.