WARRENSBURG, MO – The East Central University men's basketball team made their season debut a success on the first day of the Weekend Classic in Warrensburg, MO, defeating Upper Iowa 85-70 for the first win of the 2022 season and for Head Coach
Daniel Wheeler.
"I am so proud of our guys. That was a really good team that we played today that has won at a high level," Head Coach
Daniel Wheeler said. "They really competed and played for each other. We had multiple guys step up and make big plays through the game. It's a great start, and I look forward to seeing how we can build on it."
ECU was down 10-7 at one point in the first before a layup by
Romello Wilbert put the Tigers in front for good.
Jakeem Acres' field goal sparked an 8-0 run by East Central to up their lead 21-12 while holding Upper Iowa scoreless for three minutes.
The lead peaked in the first half at 13 (33-20) on
Keyon Thomas' jump shot at the 5:21 mark and a flurry of Tiger layups and free throws kept the Peacocks at arm's length the remainder of the half. A final jumper by
Leonard Dixon would take ECU into intermission leading 46-32 over Upper Iowa.
The Peacocks started out the second half with a 3-pointer at the 19:10 mark, but the Tigers quickly answered back with a jumper of their own from
Keyon Thomas. Missed shots by Upper Iowa and key defensive rebounds by
Barron Tanner, Jr.,
Godsgift Ezedinma, and
Romello Wilbert during a four-minute stretch allowed the Tigers to expand their lead to 52-37.
Upper Iowa went on a 7-0 scoring run with six minutes left to play, but
Godsgift Ezedinma stopped that momentum by drilling a 3-pointer, which
Jakeem Acres followed with a dunk, and ECU eventually pushed its lead to 19 at 79-60 with less than five minutes to go.
The Peacocks managed to go on one more scoring run to cut the lead to 81-70, but the Tigers stepped up and closed out the game 85-70.
Keyon Thomas made 8-of-12 shots and 10-of-12 free throws in his 28-point outing.
Jakeem Acres also had a big game with 17 points and an .857 field goal percentage.
Romello Wilbert hauled down a game-best eight rebounds, while Leonard Dixon put up 11 points and five boards.
Due to travel difficulties for Minot State caused by the winter weather, the East Central University men's basketball team will now play the University of Central Missouri on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m.
