ADA, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team secured another Great American Conference win in convincing fashion Saturday, defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State University 103-75.
 
With the victory, ECU improves to 7-10 in GAC play, while NWOSU falls to 6-11. The win also marks the first time since the 2020-21 season that the Tigers have scored 100 points against a conference opponent, when they defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State University 103-102.
 
Jaden Miller got the scoring started for the Tigers with a quick layup, and a three-pointer from Brandon Manna followed by a layup from Jordan England quickly pushed the lead to 7-0. Both teams looked to establish the tempo offensively, pushing the ball up the court, but midway through the first half, the Tigers were cruising with a double-digit advantage. ECU stood strong defensively, forcing six turnovers and converting them into 13 points.
 
The Tigers shot lights out in the first 20 minutes. Rustin Coffey, who led the team in first-half scoring, played a key role in the dominant effort. Coffey played the entire half and headed into the locker room with 18 points, going a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range. At halftime, ECU held a commanding 53-29 lead. The Tigers shot 65.5 percent from the field and tallied an impressive 21 points off turnovers, compared to just six by the Rangers.
 
ECU opened the second half with a 24-point lead and looked to put the game away. Mann led off the scoring with a layup at the basket. The Rangers responded with a 7-0 run, but Jordan England snapped it with a basket of his own. Coffey kept the momentum going with a dunk at the 13:49 mark that energized the crowd. A trip to the free-throw line for Jaden Miller helped maintain the 20-point cushion.
 
The Tigers never let up the rest of the way. The energy inside the Dome was evident as ECU continued to roll past the Rangers from Alva. Johnathan Price put the finishing touches on the night with two powerful dunks to seal the 103-75 victory.
 
Rustin Coffey led the Tigers with a career-high 33 points, including seven made three-pointers and a perfect 8-of-8 performance from the free-throw line. Jordan England and Jaden Miller each added 16 points, with Miller also recording 10 assists for his eighth double-double of the season.