ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Micah Delph's 20 first-half points including four buckets from three-point range were not enough in the Ouachita Tigers' 73-62 loss to East Central University on Saturday. 

The Tigers completely dominated the first half, shooting 57 percent from the field and netting 11-12 from the free-throw line. Ouachita claimed the early lead and never looked back, not allowing ECU to take the lead in the entire first half. At the end of the half, the Tigers led 45-34.

Micah Delph was the most valuable player of the first half, scoring 20 points and grabbing four rebounds. Allen Buchanan also scored in double-digits, ending the half with 10 points on 4-5 shooting. 

The Tigers excelled defensively, as well, holding ECU to shoot only 37 percent from the field. Ouachita out rebounded East Central 20-11 in the first half. 

East Central opened the second half on a 24-7 run to take a six-point lead with 7:33 to play. Despite never leading by more the 11, East Central held off the Tigers and prevented any late comebacks. The game ended with ECU on top 73-62. 

The Tigers hot, first-half shooting came to an abrupt end in the second half, as Ouachita shot only 20 percent from the field and were 1-10 from deep. The Tigers also committed 14 turnovers, giving East Central 17 points off turnovers. Henry Pwono led the run for ECU, scoring 17 points in the second half. 

The Tigers finished the game shooting 39 percent from the field, compared to ECU's 40 percent shooting. Ouachita's 25 turnovers also gave ECU a total of 29 points off turnovers. Pwono finished with 24 points and six boards for East Central.

Delph led the charge for OBU, finishing with 26 points and six rebounds. Buchanan added 12 points, and Colt Fason scored 10 and grabbed eight boards. 

The Tigers (7-12, 4-9) will travel to Bethany, Okla. on Saturday, Feb. 8, to take on Southern Nazarene at 4:00 p.m.