SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The 2015-16 Great American Conference men's basketball champion Ouachita Tigers are back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008 as the seventh seed in the central region. The Tigers open play on Saturday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m. versus the second seed, Northwest Missouri State.

The Tigers (19-12) enter the tournament having won three straight and seven of their last ten games. In the GAC tournament, the Tigers won all three games by an average margin of eight points and their defense allowed their opponents only 65 points per game. On the season, Ouachita's opponents averaged only 73 points per contest.

Ouachita is led by its seniors, Tirrell Brown and David Berete. Brown averaged 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The first team All-GAC selection averaged 21 points per game in the GAC tournament to earn tournament MVP honors. Berete, the GAC Defensive Player of the Year, was named to the All-GAC tournament team after averaging 10 points and seven rebounds per game.  

The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats are currently ranked 11th in Division II and are 25-5 this season. This is the Bearcats 16th NCAA tournament appearance and they enter the regional with a 15-game win streak. Missouri Western is led by sophomore guard Justin Pitts. Pitts, the 2016 MIAA Player of the Year, is averaging 20.9 points per game and averages 36 minutes a game. As a team, the Bearcats shoot 49 percent from the floor.  
 

TALE OF THE TAPE: Ouachita Baptist vs. Northwest Missouri

	PPG OFF	PPG DEF	FG% OFF	FG% DEF	3FG% OFF	3FG% DEF	FT%	RPG OFF	RPG DEF	TPG	APG	SPG	BPG
OUA	77.5	73.4	45.7	43.8	37.3	32.4	73.3	36.4	34.3	13.5	14.1	6.8	2.3
NW Mo.	75.2	64.9	49.4	45.6	41.0	35.8	71.3	31.2	28.3	8.3	12.6	5.0	2.1

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