Box Score ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – With the help of 31 free throws, the most made by a Ouachita men's basketball team since netting 34 against North Alabama on Dec. 10 2004, the Ouachita Tigers defeated the Harding Bisons 81-75 on Saturday. With the victory, Ouachita is now tied with East Central for first place in the Great American Conference.
Colt Fason started the game with a jumper that put the Tigers ahead 2-0. Despite Harding tying the game at 2-2 immediately after, Ouachita took back the lead and never gave it up. With 13:29 to play in the first half,
Jordan Corbitt converted on a three-pointer on a pass from
Justin McCleary. The score gave the Tigers their first double-digit lead at 15-5.
Another jumper from Fason with 8:35 to play in the first half gave the Tigers their third double-digit lead of the game, and Harding did not pull within 10 for the rest of the half.
Micah Delph scored a team-high seven points in the first half, including 4-4 from the free-throw line. Delph also added four assists and three rebounds.
Despite both teams committing 11 first-half turnovers, Ouachita took advantage by scoring nine more points off turnovers.
In the second half, an 8-0 run for Harding pulled the Bisons within seven with 16:49 to play. The Tigers held their lead, however, and never let Harding within five.
Much of Ouachita's offense came from the charity stripe in the second half, as the Tigers scored 18 points from the line. The Tigers also committed only four turnovers in the second half, compared to Harding's nine.
For the game, Ouachita converted on a season-high 91.2 percent of its free-throws.
David Berete finished the game with a team-high 18 points, including 6-6 from the free-throw line. Delph followed with 14 points, five assists and four rebounds. Fason and
Tirrell Brown scored 13 points and 10 points, respectively, and each grabbed six boards.
The Tigers (8-2, 4-1) are off to their best start in conference play since the 2011-12 season when Ouachita started 4-0. Ouachita will travel to Weatherford, Okla. on Thursday, Jan. 8, to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
