NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After two consecutive three-pointer's from Ouachita's Jontavis Willis, the Tigers trailed Division I Belmont University by only three, 42-39, with 13:21 to play. The Bruins from Belmont stopped the run, however, and ended Ouachita's hopes of an upset by ending the game on a 25-7 run. The Tigers fell to 2-8 on the season after the 80-54 loss. 

Belmont (7-4) posted a field-goal percentage of 51 percent while holding the Tigers to 31.1 percent. Ouachita committed only three more turnovers in the contest, but the Bruins capitalized on the Tigers' mistakes, outscoring Ouachita 23-8 on points off turnovers. Belmont also outscored Ouachita 34-18 in the paint. 

Ouachita's only lead in the contest came after a jumper by Willis that put the Tigers ahead 2-1. That lead was held for just 30 seconds, as the Bruins took and kept the lead. After Belmont gained a 14-5 lead, Ouachita's Tirrell Brown sparked a 9-0 run to tie the game with 8:10 left in the first half. Belmont kept its lead, however, and eventually claimed a double-digit lead after a 9-2 run. The Bruins later took a 35-20 lead to end the first half.

Seven Tigers scored in the first half, with Brown leading the way with five points. Brown also recorded a game-high four steals but early foul trouble caused Brown to only play 10 out of 20 minutes. 

In the second half, a layup by Aitor Lopez-Breton started a 16-4 run that eventually led to the three-point deficit. The run lasted over four minutes, and five different Tigers scored during the streak. The momentum quickly shifted to the Bruins, as Belmont took a 10-point lead with just under 10 minutes to play. The Bruins missed only three field-goals for the rest of the contest, eventually defeating Ouachita by 26. 

Belmont was 51.9 percent from the floor in the half, as Ouachita converted on only 30.3 percent of field goals. Brown, Lopez-Breton and Justin McCleary each fouled out in the contest, resulting in no low-post player for Ouachita. 

Brown finished with a team-high 12 points, followed by McCleary with 11, including 3-5 shooting from three-point range. David Berete led Ouachita with nine rebounds, and Lopez-Breton grabbed eight. Both Brown and Berete had four steals. 

The Tigers will return home for a non-conference game against Midwestern State University on Saturday, Dec. 19. Tipoff in Bill Vining Arena is scheduled for 3 p.m.