ADA, Okla. – Just over two days since playing one another in Russellville, the Arkansas Tech and East Central men's basketball teams met up for a second-straight game on Thursday night, this time in Ada.
 
The initial game went the way of Tech, 81-61, thanks, in part, to a blistering 68% field goal percentage in the second half. In the quick turnaround rematch, however, ECU returned the unwelcomed favor and shot 68% themselves in the second half of Thursday night's game to help give them a 77-69 win, evening the season series.
 
In the first half, the Wonder Boys (6-9, 3-6 GAC) seemingly picked up where they left off on Monday night and raced out to a quick 6-0 lead through the first two minutes of action. It wasn't until the 17:04 mark of the first half that ECU got on the scoreboard with a three-pointer.
 
The quick start continued for the Wonder Boys throughout much of the opening half as Tech played from ahead up until the final minute of the period. Prior to that, the Wonder Boys had taken a lead as large as 14 points just under 11 minutes to go before halftime.
 
After that high watermark lead, ECU began to fight back into the game and an 8-0 run over the next three minutes of action cut the Tech lead by more than half and pulled the Tigers (7-10, 5-6 GAC) within six points with 7:46 on the clock.
 
The Wonder Boys momentarily staved off the surge and with 5:44 to go in the first half, built back a double-digit lead, 28-18. Another 8-0 burst by the Tigers followed over the next minute and a half and all of a sudden the Tech lead was just two points, 28-26, with 4:06 left in the first half.
 
Tech was once more able to keep their lead intact for the time being, but a three-pointer by ECU at the 1:12 mark gave the Tigers their first lead of the game. Following a trade of turnovers, the Wonder Boys got the ball for the final possession of the first half and Calvin Allen buried a three-pointer at the horn to give the Wonder Boys a one-point lead at the break.
 
The Wonder Boys would remain in the lead, albeit slim, through the first bit of the second half.
 
Trailing by five points with just over 16:30 left in the game, ECU knocked down consecutive three-pointers over the next minute to swing the lead in their favor, 42-41. The Tigers then added four more points to that run and grabbed a foothold on the game.
 
The Wonder Boys stayed within striking distance the remainder of the game, but the highly-efficient offensive output by the Tigers kept Tech from mounting a true comeback effort.
 
The Wonder Boys had three players score in double figures with Cameron Kennedy leading the way with 16 points. He was 6-of-12 overall and 4-of-8 from three-point range. Calvin Allen was next with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Matching Allen and coming back after missing the last three games was Tony Hall.
 
The Wonder Boys now prepare for a stiff road test as they travel to Durant, Okla. on Saturday afternoon to take on league-leading Southeastern Oklahoma. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.