Alva Review-Courier -

WEATHERFORD, OKLA. – The East Central University men's basketball team claimed second-place in the Great American Conference standings after defeating Southwestern Oklahoma State, 89-88, on the road.

The Tigers (8-3, 6-1 GAC) had five of eight players score in double-digits, with sophomore Camron Talley earned 16 points, four rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block. Junior Da'Rion King added 11 points, eight boards and two assists.

While it took a while for either team to score, ECU jumped out to an early 4-0 advantage in the first three minutes. The Bulldogs (3-10, 1-6 GAC) countered with the next four points to tie the game over the next minute. However, that is when the Tigers took over, going on an 11-1 run to take a 15-4 lead, with 14:30 left to play in the half.

SWOSU didn't give up and followed with a 15-7 run to cut the deficit to two (22-20). The teams then traded runs the rest of the stanza, but the closest that the Bulldogs could get was one (41-40), with ECU taking a 49-47 lead into the locker room.

The Tigers came out firing in the second half, going on a 9-0 run before SWOSU netted its first points of the half on free throws. ECU kept the Bulldogs from scoring their first field goal in the half until 13:39 was left on the clock and the Tigers held a 58-54 advantage.

Over the next three minutes, ECU pushed back ahead, going on a 15-6 run for a 73-62 lead. The Tigers kept the advantage around nine points until the final five minutes. SWOSU then put together an 8-1 run to get within two (83-81), with three minutes left to play.

The Tigers countered with a 4-0 run, but SWOSU kept pushing and was able get within one (89-88), with 12 seconds left after a ECU missed key free throws down the stretch. However, neither team was able to score in the remaining time, giving the Tigers the 89-88 win.

ECU will now return home to face league-leading Southern Nazarene, Saturday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m. in the Kerr Activities Center.