ADA, Okla. - The Ouachita Tiger's longest win streak since 2003-04 ended at 10 games on Saturday, as Ouachita was defeated by the East Central University Tigers, 77-75.
Ouachita (12-9, 12-3 GAC) converted on 44.3 percent of its shots from the field, while holding ECU to just 39.3 percent. East Central (15-6, 11-4 GAC) netted 27-39 free-throws, however, outscoring Ouachita by 14 points at the charity stripe.
East Central started the game on an 8-0 run and maintained its lead for almost the entire game. Ouachita was able to hold a lead for just 1:19 of the 40-minute contest.
Ouachita trailed for the entire first half until
Allen Buchanan gave the Tigers their first lead, 26-25, with 3:54 until halftime. East Central immediately took the lead back, but Buchanan stole it again to put Ouachita ahead 28-27. The final three minutes of the first half was back-and-forth scoring, until ECU converted on a layup with six seconds left to take a 34-31 lead into the break.
In the second half, East Central quickly jumped out to a 39-32 lead with 18:39 to play, and Ouachita was never able to tie the score or take the lead again. With 14 seconds remaining,
Lakee Westbrook knocked down a three-pointer to pull Ouachita within five, and after two free-throws from ECU, Westbrook netted another three to cut the deficit to 76-72 with two seconds left.
East Central then made one of two free-throws, and despite another three at the buzzer from Westbrook, ECU escaped with the 77-75 win. Westbrook had 16 points in the second half, nine in the final 14 seconds.
Westbrook finished the game leading all scorers with 20 points.
Justin McCleary added 15 points for Ouachita, and
Tirrell Brown scored 10 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Buchanan came off the bench to score 11 points, the highest in a conference game this season, and
David Berete secured a team-high 10 boards to go with seven points and a game-high six assists.
The Tigers will look to bounce back from the loss on Thursday, Feb. 11, when Ouachita travels to Russellville, Ark. to take on Arkansas Tech. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
