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December 7, 2000
Tigers Fall to Lions in Double Overtime
Mac Sisson
Arkadelphia - Ouachita Baptist University Tiger senior guard T.J. Jones brought the crowed to its feet with a 38-footer at the buzzer to bring his team to a 82-82 tie at the end of regulation play, but his heroics were for naught as OBU fell in double overtime 108-102 Thursday night to the Texas A&M University - Commerce Lions in a game at OBU's Bill Vining Arena in the Roy and Christine Sturgis Physical Education Center.
Trailing 79-82 with two seconds to play, the Tigers' Jordan Cowart grabbed a defensive rebound, brought the ball upcourt, passed it to Jones who took a few steps over the center line and launched the missile from off center court. He hit nothing but net to tie the score.
Ouachita (2-5) was able to grab a four point lead in the first overtime when guard Jarris Kentle made a three-pointer with 1:45 to play to make the score 92-88 in favor of Ouachita. Carl Hawkins, the Lone Star Conference Player of the week last week, then hit a three and Tyrone Palmer of TAMUC tied the score at 92-92 on a free throw with 1:27 to play.
The Tigers then went up two, 94-92, on two free throws by Jones off a foul on Joey Hadnot with 1:13 on the clock. At 1:03, Hawkins made a field goal to knot the score, 94-94. Both teams missed three-pointers in the last minute of action to send the contest into another overtime period.
Commerce (4-3) gained the momentum in the second five minutes and never trailed. Hawkins and Robert Hamilton spelled the difference in the OT as they combined for 11 points.
Jones had an impressive night for OBU across the statistical charts as he combined for five of 12 from the field, including one of four from the arc, seven of seven at the line, five rebounds, and seven assists in 48 minutes of action. Ouachita forward Mauricio Watson led all OBU scores with 20 points, four assists and four rebounds. Forward Tim Lane scored 18 points and collected six boards. Both Watson and Lane fouled out, as did freshman reserve post Richard Whaley.
The Lions (4-3), who own Ouachita in the series, 6-0, were led by Hawkins who scored 29 points and grabbed rebounding honors with nine boards. Center Tyrone Palmer added 23 points to the mix, while forward Terrance Andrews scored 19.
The Lions lived at the free throw line hitting 32 of 51 attempts, compared to Ouachita's 11 of 13. Ouachita had 31 fouls, while TAMUC was whistled for 12. The taller Texans also outrebounded the Tigers, 41-34.
As a team, Ouachita shot 49 percent (38 of 77) from the field, 15 of 30 from the arc for 50 percent, and 11 of 13 at the charity stripe. Commerce was 35 of 71 from the field, six of 19 from three-point land, and 32 of 51 at the line (63 percent).
The lead changed hands four times in the first half, with OBU and Commerce both having seven point spreads at various states.
In the second half, Ouachita held command for most of the opening minutes before Commerce went ahead, 67-66 on a two pointer by Terrance Andrews with 7:23 to play. From that point on it was nip and tuck the rest of the distance.
It was the first official meeting for the Lions and Tigers in ARKADELPHIA. All the other five games had been played in Commerce or Sherman, Texas. It was also the first overtime win for Sam Walker, the new TAMUC coach. Walker is 2-0 over Ouachita as his team defeated OBU in the season opener 99-90 on November 18 in commerce. The game with Texas A&M-Commerce marked the second straight 100 points plus game for the Tigers. Last Monday night in Arkadelphia, Ouachita defeated Arkansas Baptist College, 101-92.
Mike Reynolds' Tigers will have their hands full with their next opponent as the East Central University Tigers (5-1) from Ada, Oklahoma come to town for a 2 p.m. tip-off on Saturday at Bill Vining Arena. The ECU Tigers are a veteran team and were selected as the number two pick in the pre-season in the Lone Star Conference North Division. They return all five lettermen.
ECU was 3-1 going into a game Thursday night in Ada against Mid-American Bible College from Oklahoma City. Their only loss was a 83-67 setback at the hands of Carroll College in a game on November 25 in Helena, Montana. They have wins over Harding (79-77), UCA (73-53), and Montana State-Northern (100-74).
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