DURANT, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team earned their first win of the season in the final game of the GAC/NSIC Challenge at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, defeating Minot State University 78–67 on Saturday. After a back-and-forth contest, a decisive 12-0 run in the final five minutes put the Tigers in control and sealed the victory.
 
Kameron Newsome provided the spark off the bench, hitting three consecutive three-pointers and finishing with a dunk to cap the scoring surge that gave ECU the cushion it needed to close out the game.

"A really good team win today," Head Coach Daniel Wheeler said. "A lot of different guys stepped up and contributed and that's going to be who we are. We got better today form yesterday and will keep growing."
 
The Tigers jumped out to an early 19-9 lead in the first half, but Minot State responded with a 14-3 run to take their first lead at 23-22. The remainder of the half saw both teams trade points, ending tied at 30-30.
 
The second half continued in similar fashion, with neither team holding more than a two-possession advantage until ECU's late-game push. Layups from Brandon Mann, Rustin Coffey, and Race Herr set the stage for Newsome's hot hand, allowing the Tigers to pull away and secure the win.
 
Coffey led ECU with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting, adding two three-pointers, five free throws, and two blocks. Newsome contributed 13 points, shooting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Kyler Mann added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds, Jaden Miller posted nine points and seven assists, and Jordan England chipped in eight points.
 
The Tigers return to Ada for their home opener on Friday, Nov. 21, at 6 p.m. against Arlington Baptist University.