MONTICELLO, Ark. – Time ran out before the Ouachita Baptist men's basketball team could complete their second half comeback as they fell to Arkansas-Monticello 68-60 on Saturday afternoon.
Statistically speaking Ouachita (4-2, 1-1 GAC) out performed Arkansas-Monticello (3-3, 1-1 GAC), the Tigers shot 40 percent from the field and limited the Boll Weevils to a 36 percent shooting effort.
Senior's
Mahlon Martin (Little Rock, Ark.) and
Wesley Franklin (Frisco, Texas) were the only Tigers to reach double-digits in the scoring column. Martin ended the night with a team high 17-points, Franklin added 10-points in the losing effort.
The Boll Weevils ended the game with a trio of players in double-figures. Austin Hardy led all scorers with 32-points in the game, Darnell Wright added 15-points and Keelin Jackson contributed 12-points.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair between the two programs as each team traded baskets. At the 7:20 mark of the opening half Martin knockdown a three-point shot to pull the Tigers within a point of the Boll Weevils. Moments later, Martin hit
Kendarious Smith (Conway, Ark.) for a transition three-pointer and the Tigers held a 20-18 advantage.
Over the next three minutes of game time, Ouachita controlled the game and extended their lead to eight points over Arkansas-Monticello. The Boll Weevils then fought their way back into the game and the teams went into the locker room tied at 26.
In the second half Monticello built a 10-point lead in the opening five minutes of game time. Fast forward to the ten minute mark of the second half and the Boll Weevils held a commanding 51-35 advantage over the Tigers.
Throughout the rest of the game, Ouachita fought and clawed their way back in. The Tigers were able to get the deficit down to single digits but time ran out before the Ouachita could complete the comeback.
Ouachita will have a week off before they travel to Magnolia next weekend to take on Southern Arkansas. Tip-off for next Saturday's game is scheduled for 3 p.m. For all the latest news and information on the Ouachita men's basketball program, log onto obutigers.com.
