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February 14, 2000
OBU Basketball Takes Hits in Oklahoma
Mac Sisson
ARKADLEPHIA - Both the Tiger and Lady Tiger basketball teams of Ouachita Baptist University suffered losses Saturday afternoon to teams from the University of Central Oklahoma in games played at UCO’s Hamilton Field House in Edmond, Oklahoma.
The Tigers (6-14,2-6) fell to the Bronchos (7-14,3-6) by a score of 91-82 in the first game, while the Lady Tigers (16-5,6-3) were upset by the Lady Bronchos (15-7,6-4) by a score of 72-70 in the late game.
Mike Reynold’s Tigers were led by forward Mauricio Watson with 24 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Jarris Kentle contributed 18 to the losing effort, while teammates T.J. Jones and Atif Williams accounted for 13 points, respectively.
Guard Willie Taylor led the Bronchos with 22 points, followed by Dante Harris with 21, Jermel Thomas with 19, Andre Earl with 16, and Terrence Watkins added 10. Thomas was big under the basket grabbing 18 rebounds.
Ouachita actually out shot the Bronchos, hitting on 33 of 65 from the field for 51 percent, while UCO went 36 of 79 for 46 percent. OBU was six of eight from the arc for 33 percent, while the free shooting Bronchos were eight of 31 for 26 percent. At the line, OBU was 10 of 13 for 77 percent, while UCO was 11 of 15 for 73 percent.
The Bronchos out rebounded OBU by a margin of 40-39. Ouachita was hurt in the turnover department with 20 being credited to the team.
UCO led at intermission, 46-41.
Ouachita cut away at the UCO lead in the second half until Watson made a dunk at 12:02 to tie the contest, 61-61. Kentle made it 63-61 in favor of Ouachita on a jumper at 11:24.
The Bronchos responded with baskets by Watkins, Taylor, and Earl to regain the lead which they never relinquished.
In a back and forth game between the Lady Tigers and Lady Bronchos, the last word was with the home team as Keri Smith made a layup with three seconds on the clock to allow UCO the 72-70 victory.
The loss knocked OBU out of its first place standing in the Lone Star Conference’s North Division. Southeastern Oklahoma State University now is in the driver’s seat with a 15-6, 7-3 record.
Ouachita’s Jamie Scheppmann led her team in scoring with 19 points. It was Scheppmann’s two free throws with 12 seconds left in the game that allowed OBU to tie the game at 70-70.
The Lady Tigers held the lead most of the game until a three-pointer by Tevi Meek gave the Lady Bronchos their first lead, 62-61, with 4:55 left in the contest.
From that point, Smith scored five points over the remaining course of the game to inspire the Lady Bronchos in putting down the 24th ranked Lady Tigers.
In addition to Scheppmann’s 19 points, guard Robyn Anders and post Jeannie Kennedy each made 13 points, while forward Corrie Gilliland added 12. Kennedy led all rebounders with nine caroms.
For UCO, Smith scored 21 points, while Courtney Bell had 15 and Shannon Freeman contributed 14 points.
As a team, Ouachita had a less than perfect afternoon, hitting on only 25 of 66 for 38 percent. UCO made 25 of 54 for 46 percent. The Lady Tigers hit five of 15 from three point land, while UCO went six of 17. At the line, OBU was 15 of 20, while the Lady Bronchos were 16 of 19. Ouachita pulled down 38 rebounds, compared to UCO’s 36.
The Lady Tigers led at halftime, 39-30.
Ouachita had earlier defeated the Lady Bronchos, 65-48, in a game in Arkadelphia.
Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers will be at home this week. On Thursday, February 17, at 6 p.m. in Bill Vining Arena at the Roy and Christine Sturgis Physical Education Center, in a clash of titans, the Lady Tigers will meet the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Lady Savages from Durant, Oklahoma. Southeastern (15-6,7-3) leads the Lone Star Conference’s standings, while the Lady Tigers are in second place. The Lady Tigers will be seeking to protect their 11 game home court winning streak.
In a second game of the evening on Thursday, the Tigers will face the SEO Savages (7-15,3-7) in a LSC game beginning at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, the Tigers of Ouachita will meet the Tigers of East Central University (15-6,8-2) from Ada, Oklahoma in a 2 p.m. game at Vining Arena. The Lady Tigers of OBU and the Lady Tigers of ECU (11-11,5-5) will see action at 4 p.m.
The games on Saturday will complete the regular season home contests for both OBU basketball teams.
Box Score for the game
Ouachita Baptist University• Lady Tigers
