ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Senior Mahlon Martin's career scoring night helps the Tigers defeat Oklahoma Baptist 77-71.
 
Mahlon Martin scored 30 points and tied his career high in rebounding with 8. Kendarious Smith added a big night dropping 30 on 8-12 shooting.
 
The Tigers welcomed the Bison in on Ouachita's annual Release the Roar night where fans do not cheer until the Tigers have scored 10 points. Mahlon Martin came into the game seemingly determined to conquer the 10 points all by himself. After the under 12 minute media timeout the score was tied at 17-17, and Mahlon Martin had 15 of those 17 points. The Tigers and Bison would continue to exchange buckets back and forth, but the Bison would amass their largest lead 9 of the half with 2:45 left in the period. Mahlon Martin would knock down a jumper with 25 seconds left, but the Tigers would enter the break down 34-27.
 
The Tigers allowed the Bison to get the first bucket of the second half and extend their lead to 10. The Tigers would then 18-0 run in four minutes lead by 9 points by Kendarious Smith and seven points by Mahlon Martin. The drive was capped off by a fast break that saw Trey Harris find Martin open in the corner for a three pointer.  Ouachita would let Oklahoma Baptist tie the game at 53, but Kendarious Smith would score five straight points to give the lead back to the Tigers. The Tigers after gaining the lead at the 15 minute mark in the second half would never relinquish it and as the game turned to free throws Ouachita hit 11-12 down the stretch.
 
Quick Facts

• The Tigers shot 58% in the second half compared to the 29% they shot in the first.
• Mahlon Martin goes over 900 career points and is only 80 points shy of 1000.
• The Tigers forced the Bison into 15 turnovers which turned into 17 points.
• Ouachita's starters accounted for 74 of their points.
• Ouachita went 22-23 from the free throw line which is their second best mark on the year.
• When the Tigers shoot more than 20 free throws in a game, they are 2-0.
• The Tigers added their seasons high in steal against the Bison with 10.
• The Tigers are 7-3 when scoring more that 75 points and are 1-6 when scoring less.

 
The Tigers return to action on Saturday February 2 against Southern Nazarene at Bill Vining at 3:00 PM.