ADA, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team strung together a crucial Great American Conference victory, winning the battle of the Tigers against Ouachita Baptist University by a score of 76-69 at the Kerr Activities Center on Saturday.
 
The win lifts ECU to 12-14 overall and 8-12 in GAC play as they prepare to enter their final week of regular season competition, starting with a road match against Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Thursday, Feb. 29.
 
Despite Ouachita initially taking an early 9-0 lead, the Tigers kicked it into gear, beginning with Nikk Williams' three-pointer that snapped the scoring run and sparked one for ECU.
 
While the Tigers got to within one possession, Ouachita held onto that lead for the majority of the first half. However, ECU took their first lead thanks to Malik Nash's three-pointer to give the Tigers a 24-22 advantage. Ouachita managed to tie the score on two separate occasions, but Godsgift Ezedinma's jumper put the Tigers back out ahead, closing the half on an eight-point scoring run to lead 36-28 at halftime.
 
The second half was all ECU as the Tigers extended their lead to double digits. Although the purple Tigers pushed back, bringing the game to two possessions throughout the final 20 minutes, ECU had an answer for everything, allowing them to maintain a comfortable lead. Ouachita made one last push, trailing within four points with 22 seconds left on the clock,  but Keyon Thomas and Jaden Miller's trips to the free-throw line sealed the 76-69 victory for ECU.
 
Four Tigers scored in double figures, with Jaden Miller leading with a career-high 17 points on 5-of-5 shooting and going 6-for-8 from the charity stripe.
 
Nikk Williams was close behind with 16 points going 5-for-11 from the field and grabbing a team-high six rebounds, while Keyon Thomas added 15 points and Godsgift Ezedinma recorded 13 points.