ADA, Okla. – After shooting 45.0 percent (9-20) in the opening half, the Reddies managed to make just 34.5 percent (10-29) of their shots in the second period as Henderson State's five-game winning streak over the Tigers was snapped Thursday night, 73-53.
 
Malik Riddle continued his strong offensive play as of late, pacing HSU with 15 points. Zyon Patterson tied his season-high with 12 points while adding four rebounds and two steals.
 
Henderson's offense struggled to generate much of anything on the night, managing just four assists compared to ECU's 17. The three ball refused to fall for the visitors, making just 2-of-12 compared to the Tigers' 7-of-28, four of which came in the final six minutes of action.
 
Both teams were hitting their shots early on, with East Central leading the efficiency category slightly, 66.7 percent to 60.0. Shortly after the first media, however, Alvin Miles went down with an injury that saw him miss more than half of the opening 20 minutes of action. That, paired with two quick fouls on Tomislav Miholjcic, gave the Tigers the early advantage.
 
With HSU leading 10-9, an injury and foul-stricken Reddie squad went on a four and a half minute scoring drought mixed with a Tiger 12-0 run as they fell victim to a double-digit lead with 9:51 remaining before the break, 21-10.
 
A Josh Mason three-pointer 10 seconds later broke the drought and ECU's double-digit lead with a pair of free-throws from Che Smith moments later cutting the deficit to eight, 23-15. The Tigers followed that with their own little drought as they went five and a half minutes without hitting a field-goal, though they did tally five freebies from the charity stripe, to bring the Reddies within seven.
 
Just five total points were scored over the final three minutes of first-half action as ECU went into the locker ahead, 35-26. East Central's hot shooting at the start continued throughout the first frame, making 12-of-26 field-goals for 46.2 percent. Henderson nearly matched the output with 45.0 percent in its own right, although 12 turnovers compared to seven stood as the difference.
 
The teams traded baskets through the early going of the second half with ECU seeing a 41-31 advantage at the 16:46 mark. A quick five-point spurt from HSU made it a two-possession game, 41-36, but six straight from the home team reestablished the double-digit lead. That proved to be the last run from Henderson as East Central pulled away late, 73-53.
 
Henderson St. (8-10, 5-7) will remain in the Sooner State when they head south to Durant, Oklahoma to face Southeastern Oklahoma St. Saturday, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. from Bloomer Sullivan Arena.