BOX SCORE
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Ouachita Baptist became the first school in the two-year history of the Great American Conference Men’s Basketball Championship to defeat the top seed as the Tigers dominated the second half against Harding to score a 78-63 victory on Saturday from the Bruin Fieldhouse.
The game featured eight lead changes and six ties over the first 24 minutes before Ouachita Baptist (16-12) reeled off 11 straight to take control of the game with a 53-42 lead. Harding (21-9) made a run late and cut the deficit to five with seven minutes to go, however, the Tigers had an answer as they finished the game by scoring 16 of the final 22 points.
Ouachita Baptist-Harding Photo Gallery
The Tigers took advantage of 17 Bisons’ turnovers and scored 19 points off those turnovers. Harding only scored four points off 10 Ouachita Baptist turnovers. In the second half alone, the Tigers outscored the Bisons 14-0 on points off turnovers.
Second-Team All-GAC guard Austin Mitchell and Colt Fason led the Tigers with 17 points. Fason also grabbed seven rebounds. Michael Morris added 15 points, three steals and two blocks. He went 6-of-8 from the floor. Nigel Ramsey chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Zach Roddenberry, a First-Team All-GAC selection, totaled game highs in points, 19, and rebounds, 10. Harding shot just 38.6 percent from the field. The Bisons, who entered the week ranked fourth in Wednesday’s NCAA South Central Region ranking, will await an announcement of the NCAA Division II Tournament on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
Ouachita Baptist will attempt to defeat its third-straight higher seed when it meets Arkansas Tech in the GAC Men’s Basketball Championship final at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Tigers and Wonder Boys split their regular-season matchups – both won at home. In those two games, Mitchell hit eight 3-point field goals and shot 53.3 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.