Box Score
BARTLESVILLE, Okla.- The Ouachita Tigers sealed their first ever berth in the Great American Conference Championship game with a win over Harding University on Saturday evening. The Tigers notched a 78-63 win behind a great defensive performance and 10 of 10 shooting from the free throw line down the stretch.
 
The Tigers (16-12) took off early; putting up a seven point lead with just five minutes expired from the game. Harding (21-9) rallied back though and neither team was able to separate from the other and halftime saw the Tigers leading by just one point.
 
Ouachita again stole the momentum early in the half, stretching out to an 11 point lead with 12 minutes left to play. Harding posted a couple of short rallies, but the Tigers held on and sealed their 15 point win behind a 10-of-10 performance from the free throw line over the course of the last four minutes.
 
Austin Mitchell and Colt Fason both posted 17 points to lead the team.  Michael Morris and Nigel Ramsey finished with 15 and 12 points respectively. Fason led the team in rebounding as well, recording seven.
 
Zack Roddenberry led Harding with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Adam Sterrenberg recorded 11 points.
 
The Tigers outshot Harding, finishing with a field goal of percentage of 55 percent while Harding shot just 38.6 percent. The Tigers also out-rebounded the Bisons, notching 28 rebounds to Harding's 27.
 
Ouachita will take on Arkansas Tech at 3:30 p.m. at Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Tech defeated Southwestern in their semifinal game.
 
-Josh Fink, Sports Information Director