From ECU Sports
Teri LaJeunese, Sports Information Director
ADA – The East Central University men’s basketball team claimed its fourth-straight win, with an 85-70 victory over Ouachita Baptist in Great American Conference action at the Kerr Activities Center.
The Tigers (4-4, 2-2 GAC) had a total of four players with over 10 points for the game, with senior Braxton Reeves leading the team with 23 and adding four points, three steals, an assist and a block. Senior Ishmael Donzo added 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds, senior Donovan Halsel netted 12 points and junior Brett Cannon 11 points, six assists and three steals.
ECU was the first to get on the scoreboard and despite a quick 3-4 deficit, with 17:21 left in the first half, held the lead for the rest of the game. The Tigers used several runs through the first half to push the lead to as many as 17 and went into the locker room with a 42-25 advantage.
The lead was pushed out to over 20 points in the first two minutes of the second half. ECU never let the advantage drop to lower than 11 points the rest of the game and kept the lead around 15 points for most of the time. The Tigers ended the game with a 15-point advantage to claim the 85-70 win.
The game was heavy on fouls and free throws, with the Tigers going 25-of-39 from the charity stripe and Ouachita (4-3, 2-2 GAC) making 18-of-24 attempts. ECU also had a strong shooting day making 55.3 percent (26-of-47) of their overall shots and 47.1 percent (8-of-17) of those taken beyond the arc.
The Tigers will have over a full week off for finals before hosting the final two games of the 2016 portion of the season at the Kerr Activities Center. ECU will first host Texas A&M-Commerce, Thursday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. The final game of 2016 is set for Monday, Dec. 19 at noon against Cameron. The game will be the annual Kids Game with local schools bringing teams to the gym.