Ouachita Stories

The Ouachita Baptist University men’s basketball team, off to its best start since 1972, jumped four spots to No. 16 in the NABC/Division II Coaches Poll released Dec. 16.

The Tigers (9-1), who were ranked No. 20 last week, earned a 59-54 victory at Northeastern Oklahoma State before finishing the week with a 65-45 win in Memphis, Tenn., against Barry on Sunday.

Ouachita, which began the 1972 season 14-1, is one of four Gulf South Conference schools in the Top 25. Arkansas-Monticello (9-0) leaped five spots from 13^th to eighth. Valdosta State (9-1) moved four spots to No. 20, while Harding (7-0) enters the poll ranked 25^th. Findlay (7-0) holds the top spot.

The Tigers travel for a pair of games Dec. 20-21 in the St. Mary’s Shootout Classic in San Antonio, Texas. Ouachita meets No. 5 Central Oklahoma on Saturday, followed by a Sunday game against Midwestern State.

Both games begin at 3 p.m., and can be followed on the Ouachita Baptist athletic website through live stats at: www.obutigers.com/sport.asp?Sport=Basketball%20-%20Men%27s or click the link:media.stmarytx.edu/~rattlerathletics/livestats/mbasketball/xlive.htm

by Brian Howard