ARKADELPHIA -- A slim 33-29 halftime advantage by Ouachita Baptist proved the difference in the game against visiting Arkansas-Monticello Thursday night.
Junior Mahlon Martin and freshmen Kendarious Smith and Matt Stanley each scored in double figures to lead the Tigers (6-7, 3-4) to an 82-78 win at Bill Vining Arena.
The Boll Weevils (8-5, 3-4) raced to an early 9-3 lead in the first five minutes of the game, but Ouachita responded with an 8-0 run to take an 11-9 advantage with 12:15 remaining in the first half.
Two free throws by Monticello's Troy Thomas gave the Boll Weevils their last lead of the game at 18-13 with less than 10 minutes to play in the first half.
Martin and Stanley each scored seven points in the opening frame as the Tigers took a 33-29 advantage into the break. Martin's layup stretched the lead to 42-32 five minutes into the second half, but Monticello fought back.
The Boll Weevils rode a 14-0 run to pull within 66-64 with 3:03 remaining in the game but got no closer. Two free throws by senior Jontavius Willis pushed the lead back to 75-68 in the final minute as the Tigers converted on 21 of their last 27 attempts from the foul line to preserve the lead.
Martin finished with 18 points and five assists, while Stanley added 17 points with eight rebounds and Smith had 13 points with four assists and two rebounds.
Monticello's Derylton Hill led all scorers with 20 points, while Cobe Goosby scored 13 points, Keelin Jackson had 12 points and Karim Mawuenyega added 10 points.
Ouachita travels to Harding today and the Boll Weevils host Henderson State.
Women
The Lady Tigers (8-5, 4-3) limited Monticello (5-7, 1-6) to just 34 percent from the field, including 23 percent from behind the arc, in a 63-52 win Thursday night at Bill Vining Arena.
Trailing 7-3 midway through the first quarter, OBU bounced back to take an 11-7 lead at the end of the period. Monticello knotted the score at 11-11 in the first two minutes, but never regained the lead.
A 3-pointer by Morgan Miller gave the Tigers a 24-16 advantage before settling with a 25-21 lead at the break.
Ouachita senior and Lake Hamilton graduate Kori Bullard buried two shots from behind the arc in the third quarter as the Lady Tigers stretched their lead to 45-37 entering the final frame.
A free throw by Monticello's Chari Swift had the Cotton Blossoms within 52-44 with 6:27 remaining, but Ouachita responded with an 11-4 run for a commanding 63-48 advantage in the last two minutes.
Monticello scored the game's last four points to set the final margin.
Miller paced the Lady Tigers with 12 points, also recording seven rebounds and three assists. Alivia Huell, of Malvern, recorded 10 points and six rebounds, while Shakyla Begnaud chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Brittnee Broadway led the Cotton Blossoms with 12 points and eight rebounds, Taylor Collins added 10 points, four rebounds and two assists and Idalis Rubalcava finished with 10 points, five rebounds and two steals.
Ouachita travels today to meet Harding and Monticello hosts Henderson State.
Sports on 01/13/2018