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February 6, 2001
Tigers and Lady Tigers Complete Sweep of Tech
RUSSELLVILLE-The Ouachita Baptist University Tigers and Lady Tigers completed a regular season sweep of the Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys and Golden Suns on Monday night at ATU's John Tucker Coliseum as the OBU men earned a 78-68 decision, while the Lady Tigers ended Tech's 29 game home winning streak, the third longest in school history, by upsetting the league-leading Golden Suns by a score of 59-48.
In the early women's game, OBU (15-5, 7-3) led most of the first half until Tech (15-6, 8-3) had a late 10-point run to gain the advantage, 26-23 at intermission.
The Suns scored the first two points of the second half, after which OBU went on a 6-0 run for a 29-28 lead with 16:32 to play. Tech forced ties at 29, 32 and 34 before Crystal Allen's two free throws put the Lady Tigers ahead for good at 36-34 with 12:21 remaining. Ouachita then outscored Tech 10-2 over the final 4:42 to hand the Suns the loss before 1,044 partisan spectators.
Allen, a Louisiana Tech transfer, led OBU with 27 points, including five three-pointers. A.J. Thomas keyed Tech's attack with 14 points, followed by Angie Harris with 14 and former OBU player Ginny Shaw with 12 points. Allen was eight of 17 from the field and 6-6 from the free throw line. Her 27-point performance represents the most points scored by a player against the Suns in a game this season.
Going into the Gulf South Conference West Division game with Ouachita, the Golden Suns were the 21st ranked team in the USA Today/Women's Basketball Coaches Association Poll.
In Monday night's game, the Lady Tiger defense held Tech to its lowest field goal percentage of the season. Both teams shot poorly the first half, with OBU hitting only 7 of 25 for 28 percent, and Tech going 9 of 32 for 28 percent. OBU went 12 of 26 in the second half for 46 percent, while the Suns were only 8 of 25 for 32 percent. Ouachita outrebounded Tech, 38-37. The Lady Tigers hit 8 of 16 from three point land, while Tech went 3 of 11.
Tech finished the game 17 of 57 from the field, a season-low 29.8 percent. Joe Foley's Suns had not lost a game in the friendly confines of Tucker Coliseum since February 12, 1998. Foley's teams had never been swept by Ouachita since he took over the reins at Tech in 1987. The last time it happened was in the 1985-86 season when Tech was coached by Jim Dickerson and OBU was guided by then second year coach Virginia Honnoll.
In the men's game, Ouachita's (5-15, 3-7) Tim Lane scored 28 points in helping the Tigers fight off a second half comeback by coach Robert Thompson's Wonder Boys (3-17, 2-9).
Ouachita never trailed in the game. The Tigers jumped out to a 14-2 advantage by the 16:02 mark of the first half and went on to lead 34-29 at halftime.
The OBU lead grew to as much as 19 points early in the second stanza before the Wonder Boys put together their comeback bid. Starting at the 11:31 mark, when Tech trailed 63-44, the Wonder Boys outscored OBU 24-11 over the next 10:50 to cut the Tigers' lead to 74-68 with 41 seconds left.
Mike Reynolds' Tigers stopped the rally and sealed it second straight victory by holding Tech scoreless and making 4 of 6 free throws over the final 38 seconds.
Lane hit 10 of 15 from the field, including five of nine from the arc, and 3 of 4 from the line. In addition, he dished out two assists, had one block, and three steals.
Ouachita senior guard T.J. Jones of Conway blistered the nets for 21 points, including 7 of 11 from the field, 1 of 4 from the three-point distance, and 6 of 7 from the charity stripe. Jones led the team in rebounds with eight, including seven defensive boards.
Mauricio Watson of OBU contributed 10 points to the road win.
Tech was led by Jeremy Johnson with 17 points, followed by Tim Black's 12 and Lenard Blocker's 10 points.
The Tigers had another sensational second half in shooting, hitting 13 of 21 for 62 percent. For the game, OBU was 27 of 53 for 51 percent, while Tech went 28 of 65 for the contest and 43 percent.
Tech won the rebound advantage, 46-32. OBU hit nine of 22 from the arc for 41 percent, while Tech went five of 16 for 31 percent. OBU was 15 of 31 from the line for 48 percent and Tech settled for seven of 16 for 44 percent. Ouachita's defense forced the young Tech team into 20 turnovers.
The Tigers and Lady Tigers will be on their home court on Thursday night with GSC games against the UA-Monticello Cotton Blossoms (4-15, 2-8) at 6 p.m. and the UAM Boll Weevils (13-7, 6-4) at 8 p.m.
On Monday night, OBU travels to Conway to face the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears and Bears at 6 and 8 p.m. in GSC games.
-by Mac Sisson
Ouachita Baptist University• Lady Tigers
