Tigers Unable to Hold on to Late Lead Against Northwestern

Courtesy OBU Athletics Department

ARKADELPHIA, Ark.- Heart wrenching losses have seem to come too often this season for the Ouachita Tigers (7-7, 3-5 GAC) and Thursday night was no different. The Tigers hosted the Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma (7-7, 5-3 GAC) for a conference battle, but were unable to use a 12-2 run in the second half that gave them the lead to their advantage, eventually falling by a score of 82-78.

In the first half, Northwestern used 10 point performances from Jonathan Freemyer and Marshall Bell to jump out to a 39-33 lead. Both were a large part of a 7-1 run in the first half that gave the Rangers their advantage.

In the second half, it was the Tigers who went on the run though, capturing the lead after a 12-2 run with about 14 minutes left to play. The teams battled back and forth but the Tigers looked like they were going to spoil Northwestern’s first half, holding a six point lead late in the half. A barrage of threes from Northwestern turned the tides though, giving the Rangers the lead, which they eventually sealed with seven points in the last minute of play.

Ouachita’s Michael Morris shouldered the load for a large part of the second half, finishing with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Nigel Ramsey, Julian LaDay and Colt Fason all finished with solid performances as well, recording 16, 12 and 11 points respectively.

Freemyer led the way for the Rangers, finishing with 24 points, while Bell finished with 18, including a three pointer in the last minute of play. Bruce Wright and Jesse Smith led the team in rebounding, both grabbing eight.

The Tigers finished the gasme shooting 42.6 percent from the floor, but struggled from the three point line, only making five of their 20 attempts from downtown. The Rangers finished with a 44.6 mark from the floor but took advantage of their opportunities from deep, making eight of 18 attempts from three. 

Ouachita returns home on Saturday, when they host Southwestern Oklahoma State and look to get themselves back in the middle of things in the conference standings. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.

-Josh Fink, Sports Information Director