MAGNOLIA- It took double overtime to decide it, but in the end it was Ouachita who hit the free-throws down the stretch, taking down Southern Arkansas on the road, 83-80, in Magnolia at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center on Saturday.
Ouachita (8-12, 3-6 GSC West) was forced into double overtime by Southern Arkansas (9-12, 1-8), as the Muleriders’ Channin Harden’s 29 points weren’t enough.
The Tigers had two of their top scorers foul out in regulation and overtime in senior Scott Day who finished with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, and sophomore Nigel Ramsey who finished with 14 points. In all, Ouachita had six players in double figure scoring, including a team-high 16 points and game-high eight assists from sophomore Julian LaDay.
It was free-throws that made the difference, though Ouachita’s overall percentages weren’t the tell-tale sign. The Tigers hit eight free-throws in the overtime periods, as Laday (five points in first overtime) and junior Emmanuel Engulu (six points in the second overtime) came through big in the clutch. Equally as important were sophomore Austin Mitchell’s four free-throws in the final 29 seconds to seal the deal.
For Southern Arkansas, David Noble added 14 points to Harden’s 29, along with 10 from Casey Chesier. The Muleriders shot 42 percent and held the advantage in rebounds, 45-32.
The Tigers shot 45 percent on 27-of-60 shooting, including forcing Southern Arkansas into 28 turnovers, and hitting 9-of-24 three-pointers for 37 percent.
Ouachita returns to the court to face Delta State on Monday, Feb. 14 at Bill Vining Arena at 8 p.m.
