Aggies collect first conference victory

GAME BOXSCORE»

LAWTON, Okla. (Feb. 10) - Eric Moore poured in a game-high 28 points and Arthur Trousdell added his first double-double in nearly a month, as the Cameron men's basketball team earned its first conference victory of the season Thursday at Aggie Gym.

Coach Garrette Mantle's squad moved to 13-9 overall and 1-6 in Lone Star Conference North Division play, turning back East Central, 74-68. ECU fell to 12-10 and 3-4.

Trousdell and Moore were the only Aggie players in double figures on Thursday. Five East Central players reached double-digits, led by James Nave's 15, but the rest of the Tiger lineup combined for just eight points.

Cameron held a 42-34 rebounding advantage in the game and ouscored East Central 28-17 from the free throw line.

East Central led by as many as six in the first half, using a jumper by Terrell Carpenter to build a 23-17 advantage with just over seven minutes left before the break. But Cameron answered with a 10-2 run capped by a pair of Moore free throws to make it 27-25. The Aggies increased their lead to six on a jumper by Trousdell just before intermission and led 39-33 after another Trousdell bucket to start the second period.

The Tigers rallied on several occassions, but never led in the second half as the Aggies fought off each East Central comeback bid. Moore's three free throws after he was fouled on a shot attempt from behind the arc pushed the Cameron lead to 59-49 with 8:21 to play, but ECU scored the next seven points to get back in contention. Brandon Hawkins made it a one-point game with a layup near the 3:00 mark and Nave completed a traditional three-point play following a foul by Trousdell to leave the Tigers trailing just 70-68 with 26 seconds left in the game.

But Marcus Girtmon converted four straight free throw attempts down the stretch to secure a coveted conference with for the Aggies on Homecoming night at Aggie Gym.

Cameron will look to make it two in a row Saturday, travelling to Durant to face Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Savages, who lost 68-62 at No. 25 Southwestern Oklahoma Thursday night, posted an 82-63 win over the Aggies in Lawton on Jan. 22.