WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team endured a heartbreaking one-point loss at the hands of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, falling 61-60 on Thursday night inside Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
 
The defeat drops ECU's record to 8-13 in GAC play, while SWOSU advances to 10-11.
 
Initially, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 6-0 lead before extending it to double-digits at 19-8 with 12:14 left in the first half. However, a three-pointer by Bryce Woolridge got the Tigers going as they rattled off 12 points to close the gap within two at 22-20. A 7-0 burst by SWOSU brought their lead back out, but ECU had an answer once more, closing the final five minutes on a 9-3 scoring run, including a last-second dunk by Nikk Williams, to trail closely behind 32-29 at halftime.
 
The Tigers carried their momentum in the second half, grabbing their first lead of the game at 33-32 with 18:38 remaining, courtesy of another dunk by Williams. The remainder of the game was a seesaw battle, featuring five lead changes and three ties. After Keyon Thomas' jumper knotted the score for the last time at 54-54 with 3:29 minutes left on the clock, a three-pointer by the Bulldogs gave them a slight cushion, securing the lead once again.
 
Trailing by four points with 12 seconds to play, Godsgift Ezedinma buried a three for the Tigers with five seconds left on the clock to pull ECU within one point at 61-60. Jaden Miller picked off the inbound pass for the Tigers, but his driving layup missed the mark as time expired, unfortunately sealing the victory for the Bulldogs.
 
Both teams were nearly identical statistically, with the Tigers hitting 24-of-52 shots from the field and 6-of-21 from the three-point line while the Bulldogs shot 24-of-58 from the floor and 6-of-27 from beyond the arc. From the foul line, SWOSU held the slight edge of 7-of-11 free throws made compared to ECU's 6-of-11.
 
Godsgift Ezedinma led the Tigers with 14 points and nine rebounds, shooting 5-of-9 from the floor. Nikk Williams was next with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and Keyon Thomas added 11 points going 5-for-12 from the field.
 
The ECU men's basketball team will return to Ada for their final home game of the season against Oklahoma Baptist University on Saturday, March 2 at 3 pm. Before the game, the Tigers will honor their lone senior, Keyon Thomas.