Ada —  

Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Ryan Donahoe sank two free throws with 1.4 seconds to go as the Bulldogs escaped with an 82-81 Great American Conference men’s basketball victory over East Central University in overtime Monday night on Wayne Cobb Court inside the Kerr Activities Center.

The Tigers took an 81-80 lead with 5.3 seconds remaining when a scramble for a loose ball led to a foul by SWOSU’s Zack Howe. Caprest Rhone hit both free shots for the one-point ECU lead.

But the Bulldogs quickly came down and Donahoe jacked up an off-balance shot and drew the foul from the Tigers’ Jake Rudd as Donahoe drilled both charity tosses.

The Tigers, who fell to 5-20 on the season and 2-13 in the GAC, were unable to get off a shot as Bobby McAdoo’s desperation long pass down court was batted around as the horn sounded.

The loss overshadowed a magnificent effort by ECU senior Darnell Davis in the post area. Davis, who came off the bench, used his 6-7 body to maneuver inside for close-range shot. He was 8-of-11 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the line to finish with a career-best 24 points.

Rhone, a senior guard, added 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 free thrwos. He also hustled for five rebounds and handed out three assists. Sophomore guard Matthew Harding also had a career-high scoring effort with 13 as he knocked down 5-of-6 shots (2-of-3 from 3-point range) and nailed his only free throw.

Rudd, a junior guard, also had a solid effort with nine points and nine assists. Rudd was 3-of-6 shooting from outside the arc.

SWOSU, which improved to 15-10 and 6-9, received a game-high 31 points from Chase Elliott, who was 10-of-17 from the floor and 11-of-15 from the free-throw stripe. Donahoe followed with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 free shots.

Dominick Cornelius added 14 points off the bench and Filip Toric chipped in 12 to go with a team-high seven boards.

ECU overcame a 10-point second-half deficit and took a 68-67 lead with 3:18 to go in regulation when Harding executed a layup. Rhone later penetrated in traffic for another layup, giving the Tigers a 70-68 lead.

The two teams traded a free throw apiece as McAdoo hit the second of his two shots with 47 seconds to go. But a foul by Harding resulted in Cornelius sinking both of his free throws with 24 seconds left.

ECU opted to work for the final shot as Rhone penetrated the left side of the lane in the waning seconds. However, his shot was swatted away by Cornelius as the buzzer sounded and the two teams deadlocked at 71.

The Bulldogs had early advantages of 73-71 and 75-73 in OT, before Harding knocked down a high-arching trey with 2:15 to go off a Rudd assist.

Elliot tied the game up at 76 when he hit the second of two free shots with 1:54 to go.

Twice the Tigers turned the ball over and both times SWOSU took advantage off short-range jumpers by Cornelius and Toric, the latter of which came with 20 seconds remaining.

Davis converted an old-fashioned 3-point play with nine seconds left.

Then ECU’s pressure on the inbound from Rudd and Rhone led to a double-team tie-up on Donahoe. The possession arrow was in the Tigers’ favor with 7.1 seconds remaining.

The Tigers had troubled inbounding the ball, but a hustling Rhone hustled to get a 50-50 ball out of the air as Howe was called for the foul on Rhone with 5.3 seconds to go in the extra session.

The Tigers shot 55.8 percent from the floor for the game, including 37.5 (6-of-16) from 3-point land. ECU also knocked down 17-of-21 free shots.

The Bulldogs hit at a 49.2 percent pace overall and managed to convert only 2-of-9 attempts from long range. SWOSU was also 73.3 percent from the charity stripe (22-of-30).

ECU held a 35-25 rebounding advantage, but committed 10 more turnovers than the Bulldogs, 18-8.

The Tigers close out the 2011-12 season on Saturday by hosting Southeastern Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m. in the Kerr Center in Ada.