Ouachita Baptist University used its best shooting night of the season to defeat Arkansas Tech University 96-82 in Great American Conference men’s basketball at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Thursday night.
The Tigers (9-10 overall, 6-9 GAC) shot 60 percent (32-of-53) from the field and 73 percent (16-of-22) from 3-point range as they completed a regular season sweep of the Wonder Boys (8-13, 6-9).
Mahlon Martin notched 25 points and Matt Stanley scored a season-high 24 points to lead the way for Ouachita. Nineteen of Stanley’s points came in the second half.
“Their big fella (Stanley) was killing us on the block,” said Chad Kline, ATU head coach. “It felt like there were five or six consecutive possessions in the second half when we fouled them going to the basket. Give them credit. They made the plays when they needed to. They were just better than us tonight.”
The Tigers led 51-40 at halftime. Arkansas Tech temporarily flipped the momentum by forcing Ouachita into four turnovers over the first four minutes of the second half. The Wonder Boys pulled even at 58-58 on a pair of Alex Brown free throws at the 13:53 mark.
Morris Talbert answered with a 3-pointer for the Tigers and they led the rest of the way.
Ouachita put it away with a 13-3 run over a span of 3:11 to take an 82-67 advantage with 7:18 to go and by holding ATU without a made field goal over the final 5:23 of the game.
Will Adler scored a season-high 30 points for Arkansas Tech. He was 8-of-15 from 3-point range. Tech’s Brown finished with 14 points. Ramses Sandifer had 11 points and Freddy Lee added 10 points and seven assists.
The Wonder Boys will venture to the W.T. Watson Athletic Center in Magnolia on Saturday, Feb. 9, to face Southern Arkansas University for a 3 p.m. GAC contest.
Follow live coverage on radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com.
