MONTICELLO, Ark. –  The East Central University men's basketball team faced off against the University of Arkansas at Monticello for game one of their Arkansas road trip but were unable to secure the win, falling 66-61 in their third overtime game of the season on Thursday at Steelman Fieldhouse.
 
ECU (4-9, 1-6 GAC) held a 53-49 lead with just 1:14 remaining, but UAM (4-9, 1-6 GAC) capitalized on late-game opportunities, hitting two free throws and converting a layup off a turnover to tie the game at the buzzer and send it into overtime. The Boll Weevils then went on a 10-2 run to open the extra period, creating a gap that the Tigers couldn't recover from, resulting in the tough overtime defeat.
 
The Tigers got off to a strong start, with Godsgift Ezedinma sinking a three-pointer and Bryce Woolridge adding two quick layups to give ECU an early 7-2 advantage. As the half progressed, the teams traded baskets, with Ezedinma hitting another three-pointer and Bishop Jones throwing down a dunk to push the Tigers ahead 22-16 at the 4:13 mark. However, missed opportunities, combined with fouls and turnovers, allowed UAM to close the gap and take a 24-22 lead into halftime.
 
The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with ECU and UAM exchanging leads multiple times. A layup from Jones tied the game, followed by a dunk from Nikk Williams to briefly put ECU back on top. The game continued to see-saw, with each team responding to the other's scoring runs. ECU pulled ahead 35-28 after a 7-0 run sparked by two free throws from Jones, but UAM answered with a run of their own to reclaim the lead at 37-35. The teams traded baskets, with six ties and five lead changes throughout the half. With 3:48 remaining, ECU took a 50-46 lead following an and-one from Jones, and maintained a four-point advantage after two more of his free throws made it 53-49 with just under a minute to go. However, ECU's hopes were dashed when a turnover and a series of fouls allowed UAM to tie the game at 53-53. The Tigers had one final chance to win in regulation, but Hudson Linsenmeyer's last-second shot missed, sending the game to overtime.
 
In overtime, ECU's momentum looked promising after Woolridge's layup tied the game at 55-55, but UAM seized control with a 10-2 run, leaving the Tigers with too much ground to make up. A late jumper by Jones brought ECU within five, but it wasn't enough, and the Tigers fell 66-61 in a heartbreaking overtime loss.
 
Statistically, ECU outshot UAM in several key categories, including field goal percentage (42.3% to 34.9%), three-point shooting (15.8% to 15.4%), and free throws (73.7% to 66.7%). However, the Boll Weevils edged the Tigers with one more made three-pointer, four additional free throws, 18 points from their bench, and a 39-37 advantage on the boards, which ultimately helped secure their victory.
 
Bishop Jones led the Tigers' offense with a solid performance, scoring 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting and going 10-for-13 from the free-throw line, while also pulling down eight rebounds. Godsgift Ezedinma also contributed significantly, finishing 6-for-12 from the field and hitting all three of ECU's three-pointers.
 
The ECU men's basketball team will look to regroup and bounce back when they face Southern Arkansas University on Saturday, January 11, at 3 p.m.