ADA, Okla. – The East Central University men's basketball team earned a thrilling 71-69 overtime victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State University in its final home game at the Kerr Activities Center. The Tigers also completed the season sweep of SWOSU for the 2025-26 campaign.
 
With the win, the Tigers improve to 15-12 overall and 10-11 in conference play while clinching the No. 5 spot in the GAC Championship Tournament in Fort Smith, Arkansas March 5-8. ECU men's basketball will look to add one more win with a final regular-season game against top ranked Oklahoma Baptist University on Saturday, Feb. 28 in Shawnee at 7:30 pm.
 
The Tigers opened the contest with energy in a tightly contested first half. Hudson Linsenmeyer knocked down a three-pointer following a defensive stop to set the tone. ECU jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead behind a score from Jaden Miller, who returned after missing the previous game due to injury. The Bulldogs answered with back-to-back baskets to keep things close.
 
With 11:26 remaining in the half, ECU held an 11-9 advantage before SWOSU evened the score at 11-11. From there, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle. The home crowd provided a spark as the Tigers continued to respond to every Bulldog push.
 
Trailing 16-11, Javaun Henderson delivered an electric dunk off the bench to shift momentum, but SWOSU countered with a 7-0 run late in the half. ECU answered with a run of its own to narrow the gap to 28-27 at the break, though a buzzer-beating three gave the Bulldogs a 28-27 halftime edge.
 
In a defensive-minded opening half, ECU shot 9-of-23 from the field but found success at the free-throw line, converting 8-of-9 attempts. The Tigers forced turnovers that led to 21 points. Brandon Mann paced ECU with seven points, while Rustin Coffey and Linsenmeyer added six apiece. Miller facilitated the offense with six assists in the opening 20 minutes.
 
ECU opened the second half with possession, and Mann attacked the rim for a layup off a Miller assist to reclaim momentum. Coffey later connected from beyond the arc as both teams pushed the pace, understanding the stakes of the matchup.
 
With 8:34 left in regulation, a Bulldog jumper made it 43-42. SWOSU briefly regained the lead before a Kameron Newsome layup tied the game at 45-45. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, and Miller calmly converted two free throws to keep ECU within striking distance. With 2:24 remaining, SWOSU held a 57-52 lead, putting pressure on the Tigers.
 
Coffey drilled a timely three-pointer to cut the deficit to one possession. In the final minute, Mann delivered in the paint, finishing at the rim to tie the game at 57-57 and send it to overtime. ECU raised its shooting percentage to 41.7 percent by the end of regulation, while dominating the glass with 16 rebounds and scoring 32 points in the paint.
 
SWOSU struck first in overtime, but Miller answered with a midrange jumper. Mann followed with a put-back bucket to give ECU a 61-59 lead. The Tigers locked in defensively over the five-minute extra period, surrendering just one foul and forcing a key late turnover. Miller knocked down a clutch three-pointer to extend the advantage, and Mann added a bank shot to make it 66-62. The Bulldogs rallied late to pull within two, but Mark Rucha sealed the victory with a pair of free throws. A last-second three-point attempt by SWOSU fell short, securing the 71-69 overtime win for the Tigers.
 
Four Tigers finished in double figures. Mann led all scorers with 17 points and five rebounds. Miller turned in an all-around performance with 14 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists. Coffey added 13 points, while England chipped in 10. As a team, ECU shot 43.4 percent from the field in the victory.