MONTICELLO, Ark. – The East Central University men's basketball team started a grueling final three weeks of the regular season, with their first of nine games in 16 days, falling at Arkansas-Monticello, 69-80.
Scoring
- 1st Half: 32-37
- The teams battled for control throughout the half
- 2 tie scores, 4 lead changes
- Largest lead was five by the Boll Weevils (10-11, 6-8 GAC) and three by the Tigers (8-12, 6-8 GAC)
- UAM went on the final run of the stanza, scoring five, in the final 38 seconds, for the lead
- 2nd Half: 37-43 (69-80)
- The team continued the battle in the second half, with the Boll Weevils holding the lead in for the first 4:30 minutes
- ECU then used a 5-0 run to take a 46-44 advantage, with 14:40 left
- UAM regained the lead in the next minute, with a 5-0 run
- The Tigers kept fighting and tied the game at 49, 30 seconds later
- However, that was as close as they would get
- The Boll Weevils kept up the pressure and slowly built the lead throughout the rest of the stanza
Tiger Quick Shots
- The teams were close in all shooting categories
- FG: ECU 22-of-44 (50%) / UAM 27-of-57 (47.4%)
- 3PT FG: ECU 5-of-16 (31.3%) / UAM 4-of-8 (50%)
- FT: 20-of-25 (80%) / UAM 22-of-24 (91.7%)
- The difference came with turnovers and points off turnovers
- Turnovers: ECU 17 / UAM 12
- Points Off Turnovers: ECU 7 / UAM 23
- So. Shemar Smith led a group of three players with double-digit point totals
- Smith: 24 pts., 2 reb., 1 assist, 1 block, 7-of-9 FG, 1-of-2 3PT FG, 9-of-12 FT
- Career high for points, blocks and free throws made
- RSr. Josh Apple: 13 pts., 2 reb., 2 steals, 5-of-5 FG, 1-of-1 3PT FG, 2-of-2 FT
- First perfect shooting game of his career
- Fr. AJ Ferguson: 13 pts., 2 reb., 1 assist, 1 steal, 3-of-4 FG, 1-of-1 3PT FG, 6-of 6 FT
- Sr. Romello Wilbert led the team on the boards
- 5 pts., 10 reb., 4 assists, 1 block
Up Next
- The Tigers will remain on the road for the next two games
- Saturday, Feb. 12 at Southern Arkansas – 3 p.m.
- Monday, Feb. 14 at Henderson State – 6 p.m.
