Oklahoma City, Okla. - The East Central University men's basketball set out to Edmond, Oklahoma to take on the Oklahoma Christian University Eagles in a Friday night GAC/Lone-Star non-conference match-up. Despite a valiant effort in the second half, ECU's rally came up short in a tough 83-76 loss to OC.

The game began as a back-and-forth battle of trading points, but ECU struggled to contain the red-hot shooting of OC's K. Young, who scored 14 of the Eagles' first 18 points, including multiple three-pointers. Bishop Jones and Mark Rucha kept the Tigers competitive with 10 apiece in the half, while Jourdyn Grandberry added athletic drives and mid-range jumpers. Still, the Eagles' overwhelming offense pushed ECU into a 46-32 hole at halftime.

The Eagles continued their momentum from the first half, extending their lead up to a game-high of 19 points at 58-39. Undeterred, the Tigers dug deep. Bishop Jones continued to have his way attacking the basket and getting to the line converting free throws, while Jourdyn Grandberry added crucial contested pull-up jumpers and steady scoring at the line. ECU's resilience on both ends of the floor led them to go on a dominant 31-10 point run in a 10-minute window, bringing them to within three points of the Eagles with just under two minutes left in the game at 75-72. Although the Tigers flipped the momentum by turning the finals minutes into a one possession game, the Eagles found their composure down the stretch. Timely free throws and a key basket by OC allowed them to hold off the surging Tigers and survive by a score of 83-76.

Bishop Jones delivered a standout performance, erupting for a career-high 30 points on an efficient 10-of-16 shooting from the field and 9-of-13 from the free-throw line, leading all scorers for the game. He rounded out his dominant night with six rebounds. Jourdyn Grandberry showcased his scoring touch, netting a season-best 21 points while going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. He also contributed four assists and three rebounds in a well-rounded effort. Mark Rucha set himself a new career-high with 15 points. He was highly efficient, shooting 6-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.

The ECU men's basketball team will look to build on their second half efforts as they return to the Kerr Activities Center on Tuesday, Nov. 25 when they take on Dallas Christian College in their final non-conference tune-up before heading into GAC play.