ADA, Okla. – Ding, dong, the streak is dead as the Cameron Aggies (11-7, 1-2) picked up their first Lone Star Conference North Division win with a 60-51 victory on the road at rival East Central (8-10, 1-2).
For the Aggies, it is their first LSC-North victory since defeating East Central in Lawton at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season – and they did it in convincing fashion, never surrendering their lead and earning a hard-to-come by victory on the road. The victory is also the first LSC North Division victory for four Aggies including junior guard Milton Garner.
Garner led all scorers for the game with 21 points and eight rebounds on a 7-for-13 shooting night. Senior Nathan Murray also posted a game-high eight rebounds while adding eight points.
The Aggies opened the game on a 12-0 run and held the Tigers scoreless for the first five minutes of the half. The home squad, however, responded with eight of their own to draw the game to a 12-8 margin before sophomore forward Vinicius Telo stopped their run with a long range three. The Brazilian finished the game with 13 points and three rebounds.
Head Coach Wade Alexander’s game plan early on was evident as the Aggies attempted just six three-point shots nearly 17 minutes into the game. Cameron ran their lead to as many as 12 in the first half and went into the break up 32-24.
The Tigers shot just 31 percent in the first half on 9-of-29 shooting from the field while the Aggies connected at a 44.4 percent clip on 12-of-27 shooting. Garner led also scorers at the break with 12 points and six rebounds.
East Central opened the half with six unanswered before Garner got Cameron on the board in the second with a three-point shot to make it 35-30 for the Aggies.
An 8-2 run by the Aggies followed as Alexander began to utilize heavy ball motion to drain precious seconds off the clock with many of the Aggies second half shots coming with less than seven seconds remaining on the shot clock.
A three-point basket by senior Dylan Gilliam brought the Aggies back to their 12 point lead with less than six minutes remaining in the game. Gilliam finished the night with six points and two rebounds.
As the seconds ticked away, the Tigers sent the Aggies to the line in an attempt to save time. They were never able to recover as a pair of Garner free throws put the game away.
The Aggies return to the court September 26 when they travel to Durant, Okla., to take on Southeastern Oklahoma in another LSC North Division battle. Tip off is scheduled for 8 p.m.