DULUTH, Minn. – The East Central University men's basketball team kicked off their 2024-25 season opener with a thrilling match against Minot State University. The Tigers battled the Beavers relentlessly, pushing the game into a triple overtime, but unfortunately fell short in the final minutes by a score of 108-99 in their first game of the American Family Insurance Classic on Friday.
This marked the Tigers' first triple-overtime in the Wheeler era and their first since the 2019-20 season, when they secured a 129-122 victory against Arkansas-Monticello.
Despite the loss, ECU showcased strong performances across the board, spreading the offensive attack with six players scoring in double digits:
Mason Jones (19),
Bishop Jones (18),
Godsgift Ezedinma (16),
Jourdyn Grandberry (15),
Mark Rucha (13), and
Nikk Williams (11).
Ezednima hit a clutch three-pointer to send ECU into the second overtime, while Jones knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to force a third overtime. ECU held their ground, but Minot had an answer for every shot in the final overtime, making four of eight field goals, while the Tigers managed only two of nine, resulting in the hard-fought 108-99 loss.
The game featured 15 tied scores and 27 lead changes. ECU shot 47.4 percent from the field (37-for-78), 48.4 percent from three-point range (15-for-31) and 71.4 percent from the free throw line (10-for-14). Both teams were even scoring 42 points in the paint, but Minot held an advantage in second chance points (25-5) and rebounds (60-40).
Nikk Williams narrowly missed a double-double performance, grabbing a team-high nine boards.
Bryce Woolridge followed with seven rebounds, and
Bishop Jones secured six. Jones and
Mark Rucha both had impressive collegiate debuts, with Rucha contributing four rebounds, five assists, and 13 points, while Jones added six rebounds, three assists, and 18 points.
The ECU men's basketball team will play one more game tomorrow at 11 am against Minn.-Crookston to wrap up the American Family Insurance Classic.
