ALVA, Okla. – Ouachita Tigers use complete team effort and huge second half to defeat Northwestern Oklahoma State, 67-58.
 
Trey Harris and Kendarious Smith led the way for Ouachita each scoring 11 points and added two rebounds. Mahlon Martin scored nine points and pulled in four rebounds. Allie Freeman added a spark off of the bench scoring eight points and coming away with two steals.
 
The Tigers would score the first points of the game as off of an Eric Brown steal Kendarious Smith would be fouled and make two free throws. Ouachita and Northwestern State would go back and forth until the Rangers would extend their lead to nine points at 18-9. The Tigers would respond with a layup by Kyle Wright and three by Mahlon Martin would cut the lead to five. Allie Freeman would go on a 5-0 run by himself to pull the Tigers with one point at 23-22 with 6:30 remaining in the half. Ouachita would regain the lead on a layup, foul and made free throw by Trey Harris. However, the Tigers would go into the break down 32-31.
 
During the first few minutes of the second half the Tigers and Rangers combined for five ties and four lead changes. Mahlon Martin gave Ouachita their first lead of the second half on a three pointer with 10:00 left in the game. The three pointer would spark a 7-0 run as an Isaiah Harper jumper and Trey Harris layup would extend the Tigers lead to five. At the 3:30 mark the Rangers would get within two of the Tigers, but a Kyle Wright layup would push the lead back to four. The Tigers would end the game by making seven free throws in so doing capturing the 67-58 victory.
 
Quick Facts

• The Tigers would shoot 60% in the second half and 47.9% on the game.
• The Ouachita Bench came to play as they would score 34 of the team's 67 points.
• The Tigers got out and ran as they scored 17 fast break points.
• The Tigers are in the eighth spot in the Great American Conference rankings a game ahead of Arkansas Tech.
• If Ouachita wins on Saturday and Tech loses the Tigers will clinch a berth to the Conference tournament.

 
The Tigers return to action on Saturday as they face off against Southwestern Oklahoma State at 3:00 PM.