ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - The Ouachita Tigers men's basketball team improved to 2-0 after defeating the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist 75-62 to open conference play. Justin McCleary led the Tigers with 19 points. Lakee Westbrook finished with 15 and Isaiah Harper added 10. Ouachita committed only 10 turnovers in the game while forcing 22, including seven off of steals.

Ther Tigers held a 38-30 advantage at the end of the first half. Westbrook, McCleary and Harper led the offensive charge for Ouachita, As a team the Tigers shot only 37 percent from the floor but made 10-14 first half free throws to maintain their advantage. Oklahoma Baptists led early, holding a 17-13 lead with jut over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Ouachita responded with a 7-0 run, capped off by a three from McCleary, to take a 20-17 lead. The Tigers would not trail again in the half, extending their lead to nine after a three from Matthew Ward put the Tigers up 35-26 with 4:11 to play. McCleary scored on a layup that would be the final bucket of the half.

Twice in the second half, the Bison were able to get within five, but both times Ouachita responded with runs to get the lead back to double-digits. Two layups in the final minutes put the game out of reach for Oklahoma Baptist. Harper scored inside and was fouled. He sank the free throw to put the Tigers up 73-60. McCleary would force a turnover off a steal and go coast-to-coast to put Ouachita up by 15. The Bison would score on a dunk inside to cut the lead back down to 13 but time would expire with Ouachita winning 75-62. 

Ouachita returns to GAC action this Saturday against Southern Nazarene. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.