The Ouachita Tigers capped their 2012-13 basketball season as champions, downing their third straight opponent in three days to win the Great American Conference Tournament Championship March 10 at Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Okla.
The Tigers, seeded fifth in the tournament, beat No. 2 seed Arkansas Tech by a score of 59-54 to win the tournament. That followed a 67-60 opening round win over No. 4 seed Southeastern Oklahoma on Friday and a 78-63 victory in the semifinals over No. 1 seed Harding on Saturday.
Ouachita sophomore Colt Fason, named tournament MVP, scored a game-high 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Arkansas Tech as the Tigers (17-12) claimed their first-ever men’s basketball conference tournament title at the NCAA Division II level. Seniors Nigel Ramsey and Michael Morris both received nods for the All-Tournament Team and senior Austin Mitchell was named earlier to the All-GAC Second Team.
The Tigers’ GAC Tournament title comes in just the second year of Head Coach Dennis Nutt’s tenure at the helm of the program. It is the team’s first title since winning the 2008 Gulf South Conference West Division regular season championship under Coach Charlie Schaef. The Tigers previously won six Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference championships in the 1960s and 1970s under Coach Bill Vining.
“I’m thrilled for our team and for Coach Nutt and for how their season culminated,” said Ouachita Athletic Director David Sharp. “I am especially happy for our four seniors and appreciate the great job Coach Nutt has done.”
Sharp also expressed appreciation for great fan support throughout the season, thanking Ouachita’s students and fans “for all the support they have given our athletes.”
