ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Ouachita Tigers' men's basketball team defeated Texas A&M University-Kingsville 83-80 Friday night in Kingsville, Texas after holding off a furious comeback by the home team. Justin McCleary and Carven Holcolmbe each scored 20 points each while Lakee Westbrook finished with 19. Ouachita out rebounded the Javelinas 45-27.
The Tigers opened the game with a 10-4 lead. Carven Holcolmbe led Ouachita on both ends of the court scoring six points and getting three steals in the first three minute of play. Back-to-back threes from the Javelinas tied the game at 10-10. Justin McCleary and Lakee Westbrook answered the mini-run by A&M Kingsville with consecutive threes to regain the lead for Ouachita. The Tigers would extend that lead to 17 by the end of the first half.

The Tigers shot 48 percent from the floor and 46 percent from long range. McCleary made 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. He and Holcolmbe with finish the first period in double figures, finishing with 14 and 12 points respectively. The Tigers out rebounded the Javelinas 26-15, including eight off the offensive glass.

Ouachita extended their lead to 19 points to start the second half, but turnovers and foul trouble combined with good shooting by A&M-Kingsville saw that lead dwindle down to single digits with just under 12 minutes to play. The Javelinas shot a blistering 60 percent in the second half, but barely hit 50 percent of the free throw chances despite the Tigers committing their tenth team foul with over 12 minutes left to play.

The Tigers were red hot from the charity stripe, making 15 of 18 attempts in the second half. Westbrook led the Tigers going 9-9 from the free throw line in second half, including four crucial ones in the final minute to seal the win. Made free throws and the Tigers dominance on the glass allowed them to hold on for the three point win and improve to 3-1 on the season. It was the first loss of the season for A&M-Kingsville.