SEARCY, Ark. – Behind 22 points from Tirrell Brown, the Ouachita Tigers defeated the Harding Bisons 62-58 on Saturday. The Tigers were 56.5 percent from the floor in the second half, and 50 percent from three-point range for the game.
 
Both teams struggled from the field early in the contest, starting the first half shooting a combined 1-11 on field goals. Harding then took a 13-4 lead on an 11-0 run, but Ouachita tied the game at 15 with an 11-2 run that featured four points from Tirrell Brown.
 
The final eight minutes of the first half featured seven lead changes, until the Tigers eventually took a 28-26 lead on a three-pointer from Carven Holcolmbe with 1:06 to go. The final minute ended scoreless, and Ouachita took the two-point lead into the break.
 
The Tigers converted on just 33.3 percent of their shots from the field in the half but were 5-11 (45.5 percent) on three-pointers. Harding netted 36 percent of its shots from the floor and 30.8 percent from deep. Justin McCleary and Brown led Ouachita with eight points in the half, shooting a combined 6-11 from the field. Holcolmbe grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.
 
Brown scored six consecutive points to start the second half for Ouachita, giving the Tigers a 34-26 lead with 17:48 to play. The Bisons cut the lead to one on a 7-0 run, but Ouachita maintained its lead and eventually claimed an 11-point lead on a three-pointer from Jordan Corbitt with 10:38 remaining in the contest.
 
Ouachita claimed its largest lead of 16 with on a three-pointer from David Berete that put the Tigers ahead 52-36 with just under eight minutes to go. With 2:48 to go, however, a layup by Harding's Reggie Anthony sparked an 11-1 run for the Bisons that brought the score to 57-53 with 1:17 remaining.
 
After a Ouachita timeout, the Tigers went to Brown who delivered with a bucket to put Ouachita ahead by six. Harding was unable to complete a comeback, and Ouachita grabbed the win to move into a tie with Harding and East Central for first place in the Great American Conference.
 
Browns 22 points came on 9-13 shooting from the floor. He also added nine rebounds. McCleary followed with 12 points, and Berete added 10. Holcolmbe led Ouachita with 11 boards.
 
The Tigers will travel across the street on Monday, Jan. 18, to take on Henderson State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.