Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Despite a three-point lead at halftime, the Ouachita Baptist Tigers suffered their first loss of the season on Friday, falling 74-70 to the Southwest Baptist Bearcats.
The game, which was played in Russellville as part of the Arkansas Tech Thanksgiving Classic, featured five ties and five lead changes. Ouachita claimed the first lead of the game and maintained that lead until SBU took a two-point lead with 11:54 remaining in the first half.
With 6:36 remaining, the Bearcats (3-3) took a 12-point lead, but the Tigers immediately responded with a 16-2 to grab a two-point lead with 3:33 before halftime. After Southwest Baptist claimed another lead late in the half, a three-pointer from Ouachita's
Allen Buchanan gave the Tigers a three-point lead to end the first half.
Tirrell Brown led all scorers in the half with 18 points on 8-9 shooting from the field. He also led the Tigers with five rebounds.
The Tigers maintained their lead throughout the second half, until a three-pointer from SBU's Menas Stephens tied the game a 61 with 4:31 to play. Stephens hit another three-pointer immediately after to give the Bearcats a 64-61 lead, which proved to be the final lead-change in the game, and the Bearcats stole the 74-70 win. Stephens led Southwest Baptist with 15 second-half points.
The Tigers committed only one turnover in the second half and forced eight Southwest Baptist turnovers. The Bearcats did out-rebound the Tigers 19-14 in the half and grabbed nine offensive rebounds.
For the game, the Tigers forced SBU to commit 19 turnovers, which resulted in 21 points for Ouachita. The Tigers also scored 16 more points in the paint than the Bearcats.
Brown scored a game-high 20 points in the loss, and he also led the Tigers with seven boards.
Micah Delph added 14 points and three steals, and
Colt Fason followed with 13 points and five rebounds.
The Tigers (3-1) will take on Northeastern State University on Saturday for the second and final game of the Arkansas Tech Thanksgiving Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
