ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Senior Lakee Westbrook hit the game-winning 3-pointer from the right wing with 8.6 seconds remaining to give Ouachita Baptist a 77-75 victory over Harding in Great American Conference men's basketball action Saturday at Vining Arena.
Harding fell to 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the GAC with the loss. Ouachita won for the third time in its last four games and improved to 7-5 overall and 5-3 in conference.
Harding's Tim Wagner made a jumper on the left baseline to give the Bisons a 75-74 lead with under a minute left. Both teams had turnovers on their next possessions before Westbrook's 3-pointer. Harding had a chance to tie on its last trip but missed two free throws.
Harding used a 16-2 run early and pulled out to an 18-point at 30-12 on a Gojko Djokovic layup with 8:13 left in the half. Ouachita scored the next six points and pulled to within 37-34 on a Jontavic Willis 3-pointer with 2:33 left in the half. Wagner made two late free throws, and Will Francis made a long 3-pointer, and Harding led 42-36 at halftime.
Wagner led Harding with 18 points, and Stefan Andelkovic scored 17. Francis scored 15 points and added seven rebounds and made 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Zac Ward had 10 points.
Senior Carven Holcombe led Ouachita with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Justin McCleary also scored 18.
Harding returns to action Monday when it hosts Arkansas Tech at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.