Trojans don’t faze Tigers

OUACHITA BAPTIST 81, ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK 79

The Ouachita Baptist University men’s basketball team was not fazed by playing in the only NCAA Division I venue they’ll play in during the 20172018 season.

Making the one-hour trip from their campus in Arkadelphia, the NCAA Division II Tigers knocked down 14 three-pointers in a 81-79 victory over the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 2,078 at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.

“You get this opportunity, once in a lifetime, for our level. They were excited,” OBU Coach Dennis Nutt said. “Shots were going in tonight.

“Our guys did the most with it.”

OBU (1-0) shot 73.7 percent (14 of 19) in the second half and 54.7 percent (29 of 53) overall. The Tigers went 14of-28 from three-point range.

“We didn’t guard the threepoint line like we’re capable of,” UALR Coach Wes Flanigan said.

Senior guard Jontavis Willis, a former Norphlet High School product, led OBU with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting and made 4 three-pointers. Willis also had five rebounds and three assists.

Also, freshman forward Matt Stanley from Cabot scored 17 points and made 3 three-pointers. Juniors Wesley Franklin and Mahlon Martin, a former Episcopal Collegiate standout, each had 11 points for the Tigers.

UALR (0-1) was led by freshman forward Damir Hadzic, who scored 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Junior guard Ben Marcus finished with 12 points, senior forward Wadly Mompremier had 11 points and sophomore guard Andre Jones added 10 points. The Trojans shot 55 percent (33 of 60) and made 6 of 20 (30 percent) from three-point range.

The Tigers led 40-34 at halftime and their largest lead was 71-60 with 7:51 remaining. Marcus made back-to-back layups to pull the Trojans within 72-66 with 4:39 left.