ARKADELPHIA- A strong second half surge and 55 percent shooting performance wouldn’t be enough for Ouachita Baptist, as the Tigers fell to No. 23 Arkansas Tech, 83-73, on Saturday at Bill Vining Arena.
Ouachita (7-12, 2-5 GSC West) ouscored the Wonder Boys (15-3, 6-0 GSC West) 39-34 in the second half, but the 15-point deficit in the first half would be too much to overcome. The Tigers again were impressive shooting-wise with a 55 percent performance on 26-of-47 shots, but 21 turnovers hurt Ouachita’s chances throughout the game.
The Tigers got the deficit down to six with one minute remaining, but free-throw shots would ice the game for the Wonder Boys, as Laithe Massey and Jeremy Dunbar each converted on a pair of attempts. Before that point, Ouachita struggled to break the double-digit deficit during the second half.
Ouachita sophomore Austin Mitchell again led the team in scoring with 20 points, including 5-of-8 on three-point attempts with five rebounds and a career-high four blocks, while senior Jeremy Banks added 13 points. Senior Scott Day added a game-high eight rebounds and 11 points and sophomore Nigel Ramsey gave the Tigers four players in double digit points with 10 and six rebounds.
With a 55 percent shooting performance, Ouachita improved it’s season shooting percentages to 45 percent in 2010-11. Mitchell added to his team-high 63 three-pointers on the season, which is just two behind GSC leaders Alquan Mendenhall (West Alabama) and Kevin Harris (Valdosta State) with 65.
The duo of Dunbar and Johnnie Davis were a potent offensive attack as the pair combined for 53 of the team’s 83 points, as Dunbar scored 28 points, while Davis was right behind with 25. Arkansas Tech shot 48 percent and committed just six turnovers.
Ouachita returns to the court against Harding on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Bill Vining Arena.
