ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Ouachita Tigers fought hard from start to finish but fell to rival Henderson State 82-70. 

The Tigers kept pace with the Reddies but were never able to get over the hump to take control. The Tigers brought high energy and toughness and cut the Reddie's lead to two with four to play. Despite the valiant effort at a comeback, the Reddies completed the season sweep.

Kendarious Smith lead the Tigers with 18. Morris Talbert, Trey Harris and Isaiah Harper all contributed double digits as well.

Raekwon Rogers led the Reddies with 15. Four other Reddies were in double digits.

Trey Harris gave the Tigers an early 3-2 lead on a straight away three, but Henderson answered back and went on to take its lead out to 12-3.

Henderson picked up its physicality, but its 33 percent free throw shooting kept Ouachita in it. The Reddies stretched its lead out to double digits halfway through the first, but the Tigers battled back.

A Morris Talbert midrange jumper on the baseline followed up by a block in the final minute of the first gave the Tigers all the momentum and sent Ouachita into half down just 37-34.

The Reddies took the momentum back to start the second half, but the Tigers never went away. With 14 to play Kendarious Smith cut the Reddies lead down to three. Despite the small run, the Tigers played the next 10 minutes without getting closer than three.

With four to play the Tigers cut the lead to two, but the Reddies slammed the door on a Tiger comeback.

Ouachita fell to 10-12, 7-10 in conference play while Henderson State improved to 16-7, 11-6 in conference.

The Tigers next game will be, Feb. 15 at Southern Arkansas University. The game will start at 3 p.m. To stay up to date on all things Tiger basketball, stay tuned to obutigers.com.