ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita Baptist University men's basketball team dropped a defensive minded game to nationally ranked Southern Nazarene 68-56 Sunday afternoon at Bill Vining Arena.
It was a close game to start as Ouachita (10-9, 8-7 GAC) initially trailing to #20 Southern Nazarene (18-3, 14-1 GAC) by no more than four points for a majority of the first half. The Tigers tied it up at 12-12 with eight-and-a-half minutes left in the period and tied it again at the 5:38 mark with a score of 18-18. Ouachita proceeded to take a lead on a three-pointer from
LaQuan Butler Jr. with 4:53 left. Ouachita ended the first half with a 14-2 run to give the Tigers an eight point, 28-20 lead at the break after a defensive 20 minutes of basketball.
The second half started out back and fourth between the two squads, with the Tigers continuing to hold a small lead over the Crimson Storm. SNU tied the game on a pair of free throws with 14 minutes left in the game, but Ouachita took the lead back on a layup from Butler. The Storm took its first lead since the first half with 12 minutes to go and held it the rest of the way. Some well-timed three pointers and 20 second-half free throws (compared to seven for Ouachita) helped Southern Nazarene expand its lead and leave Arkadelphia with a 68-56 win.
LaQuan Butler Jr. led the Tigers on the floor with 14 points, followed by
Tylar Haynes with 11 of his own.
Butler also handed out five assists tonight while playing 38 of the 40 minutes.
Jared Adams led Tiger rebounders with seven.
The Tigers will look to bounce back on Thursday, February 9 as they travel to take on the Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, Oklahoma.
