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Tigers beat Wonder Boys for GAC title

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - Ouachita Baptist scored its third consecutive upset as the fifth-seeded Tigers ended Arkansas Tech’s reign as Great American Conference men’s basketball champions with a 59-54 victory Sunday at Bruin Fieldhouse.

Tournament MVP Colt Fason scored a game-high 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Tigers (17-12) claimed their first men’s basketball conference title at the NCAA Division II level.

After an opening 20 minutes that saw neither team grab larger than a four-point advantage, Ouachita Baptist ultimately seized control of the title game when Micah Delph hit back-to-back three-pointers as part of an 8-0 run that gave the Tigers a 46-37 lead.

Arkansas Tech (18-11)pulled to within two in the final minute but the Tigers held on for the victory and denied the Wonder Boys a second consecutive GAC Tournament title. For the third consecutive day, the Tiger defense carried the way. Arkansas Tech shot 35.7 percent and in the GAC Tournament, Tiger opponents shot 35.8 percent from the floor and 25.5 percent from three-point range.

Fellow Tigers Michael Morris and Nigel Ramsey made the All-Tournament Team.Jared Williamson, Willie Kirkland and Marshawn Arnold made the team from Arkansas Tech. Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Rod Camphor and Harding’s Zach Roddenberry rounded out the team.

GAC WOMEN ARKANSAS TECH 70, SW OKLA. STATE 66, OT

Arkansas Tech rallied from a 10-point deficit against Southwestern Oklahoma State to force overtime and eventually claimed the Great American Conference women’s basketball championship.

Later Sunday night, the Golden Suns were one of 42 teams to receive an at large bid into the NCAA Div. II Tournament.

The Golden Suns (23-6) closed regulation with a 12-2 run than spanned the final 5:35. Tournament MVP Jessica Weatherford scored the final six points of regulation and tied the game at 58-58 on a layup with 29 seconds remaining. Southwestern Oklahoma State (23-6) drove the ball inside to Elizabeth Lay but she could not connect on a contested layup.

Arkansas Tech immediately fell behind in the extra session, but scored the final seven points to claim its third conference tournament title in the last four years.

Weatherford earned the MVP honors as she scored 19 points in the title game despite twice leaving the game with an injured shoulder. She averaged 21.0 points in the three victories. Caroline Eubanks and Roselis Silva also made the All-Tournament team from the Golden Suns.

Eubanks established the Arkansas Tech and GAC Women’s Championship single-game rebound record as she pulled down 22, including 15 offensive. As a team, the Golden Suns out rebounded the Lady Bulldogs by 29, 64-35, and they grabbed 30 offensive rebounds.

Ouachita Baptist’s Monica Williams, and Harding’s Kristen Celsor were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Sports, Pages 17 on 03/11/2013

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