Clarksville, Ark.-The University of the Ozarks men's basketball team was eliminated from the playoffs after a 89-63 loss to No. 9 ranked Mississippi College on Saturday in American Southwest Conference play.
The Eagles (7-16 6-12) needed to win their final three games of the regular season to make the playoffs, but the Choctaws took care of business on Saturday and ended Ozarks’ hopes of a third straight post-season appearance. Ozarks could still finish in a fourth-place tie in the ASC East, but Louisiana College holds the tie-breaker over the Eagles with two wins over Ozarks, thus securing the fourth seed out of the division. Ozarks struggled from the floor, hitting only 18-of-56 (32%) of their shots, while the Choctaws (2-02, 17-1) shot 58 percent for the game. The first half remained close as Habeeb Kareem helped the Eagles get within 35-31 with a pair of free throws with 4:05 remaining in the half. Mississippi College, however, then out scored the Eagles 10-5 to close out the half. Mississippi College cruised in the second half, holding a double-digit lead the entire way. Kareem scored a team-best 17 points. Chris Williams added 14 points and Tony Daniels had 13 for the Eagles. Ozarks will end the season by hosting East Texas Baptist University on February 15 and LeTourneau University on February 17.
Topics: Athletics