ARKADELPHIA- After leading 60-54 with 3:06 remaining in the game, Ouachita Baptist committed three straight turnovers, as Delta State came from behind to defeat the Tigers, 67-62, in the Gulf South Conference opener at Bill Vining Arena in Arkadelphia on Saturday.
Ouachita (4-10) led 34-32 at half, but Delta State (10-3) went 5-for-6 from the field in the final 1:53, while also hitting a pair of free-throws to outscore the Tigers 13-2 in the final three minutes of play.
Junior Jeremy Banks led Ouachita with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Senior Belford Williams narrowly missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds, while junior Scott Day added 14 points, five assists and four rebounds. Freshman Julian LaDay added nine points, three rebounds and three assists.
The Tigers shot 41 percent overall (23-for-56), 31 percent on 3-pointers (6-for-19) and 76 percent on the free-throw line (10-for-13). Delta State held the edge in rebounding, 34-33, while Ouachita committed more turnovers at 12, compared to the Statesmen’s nine.
Jeremie Davis led Delta State with 23 points, while Roderick Ollie added 12 points and six rebounds. Chad Akins recorded 11 points, as Marqueys Brown also contributed 10. The Statesmen shot 44 percent overall, 33 percent on 3-pointers and 66 percent from the free-throw line.
Ouachita Baptist returns to Gulf South Conference action on Jan. 14 against Christian Brothers in Memphis, Tenn. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
