ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita men's basketball dropped its first game of the new year to the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist University by a score of 87-72 Thursday night at Bill Vining Arena.
Ouachita (4-7, 1-4 GAC) started the game trailing Oklahoma Baptist (6-5. 3-2 GAC) after the first few shots. The Bison led by as many as seven points in the first five minutes of the game before the Tigers started to warm up. Ouachita tied things up at the 13:43 mark and took a lead a minute later. The Tigers got hot and pushed their first half lead out to 13 points with four minutes left on the clock and took a nine-point, 45-36 lead into halftime. Ouachita shot nearly 55 percent in the first half, including going 9-of-16 from three-point range.
Tonight's game proved to be a tale of two halves however, as the Tigers came out cold from the break. OKB took back its lead after the first five minutes. Ouachita answered back, regained the lead a minute later, and held onto that lead until the Bison tied it back up at 64-64 with 8:51 left in the game. From there, OKB retook the lead and never looked back. The Tigers fell by the final score of 87-72.
Tylar Haynes led the Tigers with 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting while recording a team-high two blocks and tied for second on the team with five rebounds.
Terran Williams followed with 14 and
MJ Leslie was next with 11 to round out the Tigers in double figures.
Kobe Dunlap led in rebounds with six and
Marvin Williams-Dunn handed out the most assists with three.
The Tigers will look to bounce back as they host the Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene on Saturday, January 6 in Bill Vining Arena. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.
