ADA, Okla. – The night before the start of the 2021-22 Great American Conference Championship Tournament, hosted by Fire Lake Arena in Shawnee, Okla. for the first time, the East Central University men's basketball team saw two players named to the 2021-22 All-GAC Honorable Mention team and two claimed GAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete accolades.

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RSr. Josh Apple and So. Shemar Smith were named to the All-GAC Honorable Mention team after leading the Tigers (11-17, 9-13 GAC) to the tournament for the ninth-straight season and the No. 8 seed.  Apple claimed his second GAC honor after being named to the All-GAC Second Team in 2020-21, while Smith earned his first.

ECU also saw Sr. Cole Robertson and RJr. Romello Wilbert named GAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes, given to student-athletes who have completed at least 72 credit hours and have a 3.7 GPA, or higher.

The Tigers will face No. 1 Southeastern, Thursday, March 3 at 5:45 p.m. in the quarterfinals, marking the first time the arch rivals have battled in the GAC tournament.

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Tiger Quick Shots
• The Tigers advanced to the GAC Championship Tournament for the ninth-straight season
     • ECU is 4-4 when playing in the first round of tournament play
• RSr. Josh Apple and So. Shemar Smith both earned All-GAC Honorable Mention honors
     • Apple (GAC Only): 14.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 18 assists, 11 steals, 4 blocks, .459 (67-of-146) FG, .310 (9-of-29) 3PT FG, .714 (35-of-49) FT
     • Smith (GAC Only): 14.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 13 assists, 10 steals, 8 blocks, .544 (118-of-217) FG, .327 (18-of-55) 3PT FG, .800 (44-of-55) FT
• Sr. Cole Robertson and RJr. Romello Wilbert both earned GAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete
     honors (3.7 GPA-or-higher and 72 credit hours completed and participating at the tournament)
• Smith recorded four double-double this season, with two against Southeastern
     • at Southeastern (10 pts., 11 reb.)   
     • vs. Southern Nazarene (15 pts., 10 reb.)
     • vs. Southeastern (27 pts., 10 reb.)  
     • at Ouachita Baptist (23 pts., 11 reb.)
• Apple also added four double doubles, with Wilbert netted his first
     • at Southwestern (12 pts., 11 reb.)   
     • at Harding (23 pts., 10 reb.,)
     • vs. UAM (17 pts., 12 reb.)              
     • at Southeastern (31 pts., 10 reb.)
           • Wilbert: vs. Southwestern (19 pts., 12 reb.)
• Apple record 30+ points for the first time in his career at Southeastern
           • 31 pts., 10 reb., 2 assists, 1 block, 13-of-24 FG, 2-of-4 3PT FG, 3-of-4 FT
           • First ECU player to record 30+ points in a game since Feb. 1, 2020
                   • Matt Garriga (32) and Cam Talley (33) at Harding
• The Tigers have four players averaging double-digits in the points column this season
     • Apple: 15.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 33 assists, 17 steals, 5 blocks, .485 (95-of-196) FG, .341 (14-of-41) 3PT FG
     • Smith: 13.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 19 assists, 11 steals, 10 blocks, .544 (131-of-241) FG, .328 (20-of-61) 3PT FG, .794 (50-of-63) FT
     • Fr. AJ Ferguson, Jr.: 11.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 47 assists, 23 steals, 15 blocks, .505 (106-of-210) FG, .361 (22-of-61) 3PT FG
     • Sr. Jalen Crutchfield: 10.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 28 assists, 19 steals, 15 blocks, .394 (100-of-254) FG, .346 (53-of-153) 3PT FG
• All 11 ECU players have recorded a point, rebound, steal and an assist this season
• As a team the Tigers are already on two Season Top-10's and close to one more
     • No. 8 3PT FGA (641)             
     • No. 4 FT Pct. (.741)   
     • Close to No. 10 3PT FGM - Currently 213 / No. 10 216
• ECU radio broadcaster Kenny Morrison is working his 25th consecutive season for the
     Tigers and his 35th year as a radio broadcaster in the Ada area
           • Will be inducted into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame
                        • Banquet has been rescheduled for May 13, 2022