DURANT, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team held off a late rally by archrival Southeastern to defeat the Savage Storm 69-63 Monday night in Durant. The win snapped Southeastern's three-game win streak against ECU as the Tigers held the Savage Storm to its lowest score of the season.
 
ECU improves to 14-10 overall and 9-9 in GAC play.
 
"Our guys gave great effort and played for each other," Head Coach Daniel Wheeler said. "That was a lot of fun to watch. I'm really proud of them."
 
Barron Tanner, Jr. opened up the scoring with a layup before Southeastern answered back with a couple of buckets to lead 5-4. But the Tigers quickly responded with a 12-2 run and never trailed again. The Savage Storm tried to chip away at the Tiger's lead and was able to cut it back to single digits before the break, but ECU still held on to a seven-point advantage at halftime, 32-25.
 
A turning point in the game came after Southeastern cut a 10-point deficit down to two points (65-63) with 1:19 minutes left of play in the second half. The Savage Storm thought they had a chance to regain the lead, but a steal and mid-range jumper from Luke Harper put ECU back up four when it mattered most. Harper put an exclamation on the game with a pair of free throws to seal the 69-63 win in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
Three Tigers scored in double-figures – Romello Wilbert, Godsgift Ezedinma, and Keyon Thomas.
 
Wilbert led with 14 points going 7-for-12 from the floor.
 
Ezedinma was close behind with 13 points shooting 6-of-15 from the field while adding a team-high seven boards.
 
Thomas followed with 10 points going 3-for-9 overall and grabbing six rebounds.
 
The East Central University men's basketball team will continue its road stretch with a trip to Arkansas for a pair of GAC matchups against Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State University.