THE RUNDOWN

The Ouachita Baptist men's basketball team outscored Southern Arkansas in the second half of Saturday's Great American Conference clash, but the host Muleriders prevailed 69-58. A slow start put the Tigers in a hole as they fell behind by as many as 19 in the first half.

After going into the locker room trailing 35-20 at halftime, Ouachita nearly doubled its first half point total in the final 20 minutes, putting up 38 points in the closing period. The Tigers closed the gap to as little as 10 points late in the game, but Southern Arkansas, projected in the GAC preseason coaches' poll to win the East Division, held on for the win.

Junior guard DJ Kane led Ouachita with 11 points, nine of which came after halftime. Senior guard Larenz Nero led the Tigers with five rebounds. 

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

• Ouachita saw increases in field goals made, shooting percentage, three-pointers made, three-point percentage, free throws made, free throw attempts, and free throw percentage in the second half compared to the first.
• Late in the second half, the Tigers had scored 13 points and committed 13 turnovers. In the game's final 23:05, they turned the ball over only twice. 
• Senior guard Kendarious Smith scored nine points to bring his career total to 826. An average of 10.0 points per game for the year would give him 1,000 (assuming the full 20-game schedule is played.

BY THE NUMBERS

7 - Refusing to quit, Kane scored or assisted on seven points in the game's final 77 seconds.
5 - All five of Nero's rebounds came on offense
3 -  Sophomore guard Xavier Hall tied a career high with three rebounds.

UP NEXT

The Tigers host Henderson State on Monday for the first of four Battles of the Ravine scheduled in 2021. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.