ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Lakee Westbrook scored a career-high 36 points to lead Ouachita (11-9, 9-7) to a 71-52 win over Harding University on Thursday night in Searcy. Westbrook made a career-best 10-11 three-point shots in the game, while the team as a whole finished 17-32 from beyond the arc. Matthew Ward made four threes and finished with 12 points. Isaiah Harper went 3-4 from the three-point line and finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Carven Holcolmbe grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. 

Ward set the tone for the Tigers early, opening the game with a three. A jumper by Cross Bright gave Ouachita an early 7-3 advantage. The Bison battled back and took an 8-7 lead ona layup by Tim Wagner. It would be Harding's only lead of the night. Westbrook's first three-pointer of the night put Ouachita up 10-8 with 14:48 to play in the first half and the Tigers never looked back. The Tigers went on an 11-0 run to take a 21-8 lead behind a pair of long-range bombs from Westbrook and one from Harper. Ouachita would finish the first half with a 34-17 lead. the Tigers 53 percent from beyond the arc in the first half and defensively held the Bison to only six made field goals in the half.

Ward followed suit in the second half by opening with a three to spark an 8-0 run. Ouachita continued to hit from outside and with 5:52 to play extended their lead to 30 after Westbrook drained his sixth three-pointer of the second half. As a team, the Tigers matched their first-half three-point percentage of 53 by making 9-17 in the final period of play. Westbrook's 24 second-half points were more than any other player' for the entire game. HIs only miss from beyond the arc came at the end of the game with the shot clock expiring.

The Tigers return to Bill Vining Arena this Saturday. They face the Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech with a tipoff set for 3:00 p.m.