ADA, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team appeared to be on the verge of upsetting the top-seeded Arkansas Tech University in the GAC, but a late second-half rally by the Wonder Boys resulted in an 84-79 defeat for the Tigers in Ada on Saturday.
 
Despite six lead changes in the first eight minutes of the game, Robel Desta's three-pointer at the 12:03 mark broke the 13-13 tie, providing the Tigers with momentum to pull ahead of the Wonder Boys.
 
ECU would eventually establish a double-digit lead, leading as much as 17 points with 38 seconds left in the first half. However, an 8-2 run by Arkansas Tech narrowed the gap, and the Tigers entered halftime with a 48-37 lead.
 
The second half initially looked promising for the Tigers as they reached their highest advantage of 18 points at 63-45 with 14 minutes remaining. Despite this, Arkansas Tech gradually chipped away at the deficit, reducing the lead to single digits with under four minutes left in regulation. Nikk Williams' made free throw gave the Tigers a 79-69 lead, but they were unable to score for the rest of the game. The Wonder Boys surged ahead with an 11-point run to give them their first lead since the 13:47 mark of the first half and after converting all four free throws down the stretch, the Tigers would fall by a final score of 84-79.
 
Statistically, the game was closely contested, with the Tigers holding a higher shooting percentage from the field and beyond the arc, while the Wonder Boys outrebounded them and converted more free throws.
 
Four Tigers scored in double-figures, led by Keyon Thomas with 28 points. Thomas shot 11-for-16 from the floor including four three-pointers.
 
Robel Desta contributed 14 points, making four three-pointers as well, while Godsgift Ezedinma and Nikk Williams scored 11 points each.
 
The ECU men's basketball team will hit the road for a four-game stretch, beginning with matchups against Southern Arkansas University on Thursday, Feb. 8^th and Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday, Feb. 10^th.