ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Ouachita Tigers' men's basketball team (13-13, 11-11 GAC) lost its final regular season game to Northwestern Oklahoma State (12-15, 8-14 GAC) by a final score of 112-86 but was still able to clinch the fifth seed in the Great American Conference tournament next week in Bartlesville, Okla.
 
The loss came despite five Tigers scoring in double-digits. Justin McCleary led the team with 19 points, 15 of which were from 3-pointers. Lakee Westbrook scored 13 points, while Aitor Lopez-Breton and Matthew Ward scored 12 points each. Mahlon Martin also scored in double-digits with 11 points.
 
Northwestern started the game red-hot. The Rangers led 12-2 with just under four minutes played. The Rangers never looked back and lead by 23 points at halftime. NWOSU lead as much as 45 points in the second half, but ended up winning by 26, with the final score standing at 112-86.
 
The Tigers will open the GAC tournament on Friday, Mar. 3 against Southern Nazarene. The game will tip off in Bartlesville, Okla., at 5:45 p.m.