ADA, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team looked to have a sweep in the opening weekend of GAC play, but unfortunately faced their first loss at home with a 73-56 defeat to Southern Nazarene University on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the loss, the Tigers now stand 4-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
 
The game kicked off with ECU taking an early 5-0 lead, but that would ultimately be the first and only lead that the Tigers would hold. SNU put together a 14-point streak over five minutes, seizing control at 14-5. Despite a commendable effort by Godsgift Ezedinma, racking up seven consecutive points to narrow the gap to 16-12, the Crimson Storm persistently countered every Tiger bucket, allowing them to keep their lead. By halftime, ECU trailed 36-25.
 
After the break, SNU surged with a 7-0 scoring run, extending their advantage to 43-27. The Tigers found themselves in a double-digit hole for most of the remainder of the game, attempting but unable to close the gap any further despite facing a nine-point deficit three times. In the end, the Crimson Storm eventually settled the game with a 73-56 win.
 
Godsgift Ezedinma led the way for the Tigers with 18 points, going 8-for-14 from the field and 2-for-6 behind the three-point line while adding eight rebounds.
 
Keyon Thomas contributed 12 points, going 4-for-15 from the floor and 4-for-5 from the charity stripe as well as dishing out four assists.
 
Nikk Williams put up 10 points, going 4-for-9 overall including two from beyond the arc.
 
The ECU men's basketball team will return to the Kerr Activities Center next week to host Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Saturday, December 9^th at 7:30 pm.