EL DOARADO, Ark. – Despite gaining 271 rushing yards and a three-touchdown performance by running back Kris Oliver, the Ouachita Tigers came up 12 yards short on their final drive, falling to Southern Arkansas 32-28 in the Murphy USA Classic. The Tigers drop to 4-3 on the season.

The Tigers scored on the first play of their second first-quarter drive when Kris Oliver broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead over SAU. The Muleriders answered with a long 75-yard drive to tie the game at 7-7.

Already moving the ball to start the second quarter, Ouachita quarterback moved the Tigers down the field 84 yards to the SAU one yard line. Warford scored on a quarterback keeper and the Tigers retook the lead 14-7.

The Tigers defense stopped the next SAU drive at the Ouachita 30 yard line. Jaylin Small tackled SAU's Barrett Renner for no gain on fourth down, giving Ouachita the ball with 4:36 left in the half.

The Tigers gave SAU the ball right back and after a 51-yard punt by Shelton Wooley, SAU would start their drive on their own 23.

The Muleriders scored on a long pass play to tie the game up at 14-14. Neither team could advance the ball on their next possessions. The score remained 14-14 at the half.

Ouachita's Jaylin Small recovered a Mulerider fumble to start the third quarter and returned it down to the SAU 23 yard line. Kris Oliver ran the ball in for his second touchdown of the game to cap off the seven play, 19-yard drive.

Trailing the Tigers 21-14, SAU scored quickly again through the air on a 60-yard touchdown pass. They would fail on the extra point attempt and the Tigers remained in the lead 21-20.

The Tigers scored on their next possession, going 70 yards, 61 of them on the ground, in 18 plays. Oliver would find the end zone on a one-yard dive to give the Tigers a 28-20 lead over SAU. It was Oliver's third rushing touchdown of the day and the third team he's scored three rushing touchdowns in a game this season.

The Muleriders answered quickly on a quick strike through the air to make it a 28-26 ball game. The two-point conversion attempt failed and Ouachita entered the fourth quarter with a two-point lead.

Ouachita would be forced to punt on their opening fourth-quarter possession. Southern Arkansas moved the ball down to the 22 yard line. On a third and eight play, the Tigers Jahlon Mitchell sacked the SAU quarterback to force a 49-yard field goal attempt by the Muleriders. The kick missed wide right.

Ouachita went three and out on its next possession and were forced to punt. SAU took over at their own 24 with just over four minutes remaining. After driving down to the Ouachita 16 yard line, SAU scored on a 16-yard pass play to take a 32-28 lead. The Muleriders two-point conversion attempt was no good.

With 31 seconds remaining, Austin Warford took the Tigers down to the SAU 12 yard line going 3-5 for 60 yards through the air. With four seconds remaining, his final attempt fell incomplete. The Tigers would drop their second consecutive game for the first time since 2012, 32-28.