NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana – The Ouachita Baptist University men's basketball team gave NCAA Division I Northwestern State more than it bargained for, but ultimately came up short in a 79-68 loss to the Demons in the Tigers' second exhibition game of the season.

Ouachita started off slowly, trailing 14-4 early in the first half. But then proceeded to go on a 16-0 run to take a 25-16 lead near the midway point of the first half. It would be back and forth from there, with the Tigers ending the first half with a 38-30 lead.

The Tigers stayed hot to start the second half, with their lead ballooning up to 15 points early. But Northwestern State started to claw their way back into the game, eventually taking back the lead at 61-60 with just under seven minutes left and held the lead until the final buzzer.

LaQuan Butler Jr. stood out as Ouachita's top performer on the day, putting up 18 points with six assists to lead the team in both categories.

In total, four separate Tigers reached the double-digit points mark. Butler had 18, followed by Alex Scariolo, Reggie Martin and Tylar Haynes with 12 each.  

Ma'Darius Hobson led the team in rebounds with seven, followed by Butler, Martin and Haynes who each grabbed six.

Defensively, Ouachita snagged seven steals, led by Haynes with three, and put up four blocks, led by Butler with two.

As a team, the Tigers went 11 for 12 from the free-throw line and shot 42 percent from beyond the arc. Ouachita also outrebounded the Demons 40-25.

The Tigers will look to pick up their first win of the season next Wednesday, November 16 in their home opener against Arkansas Baptist in Bill Vining Arena.