ADA, Okla. – In an intense Great American Conference rivalry matchup, the East Central University men's basketball team faced off against Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The Tigers showcased their skills from the three-point range on Thursday night, but the Savage Storm executed a late scoring run to defeat ECU 78-69 inside the Kerr Activities Center.
 
The loss drops the Tigers to 5-6 in GAC play, putting them in a three-way tie for sixth place in conference standings, while the Savage Storm holds a second-place position with an 8-3 record.
 
The game was closely contested the entire way, with 11 ties and 10 lead changes. Despite ECU's higher shooting percentage from the field and nailing eight three-pointers, the Storm held a narrow 39-37 edge heading into halftime.
 
The second half mirrored the intensity of the first, with neither team enjoying a lead larger than five points for the majority of the contest. Robel Desta's layup at the 4:10 mark brought the Tigers within three trailing 65-62, but back-to-back three pointers from Southeastern widened the gap to 71-62 with 2:54 left to play. The Storm's lead eventually reached 12 points before the game settled with a 78-69 final score.
 
Southeastern outscored ECU 39-32 in the second half to capture the victory, with a pivotal factor being their efficiency at the free-throw line, going 16-of-19 compared to the Tigers' meager 1-of-6.
 
Three Tigers' scored in double figures, including Nikk Williams, Keyon Thomas, and Godsgift Ezedinma. Williams posted a team-high 18 points, going 8-for-12 from the field while Thomas added 14 points shooting 5-for-12 from the floor, including four from beyond the arc. Ezedinma was close behind with 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting.
 
The ECU men's basketball will aim to move back into the win column on Saturday when they take on Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva at 3 pm.