Article by Chad Clevenger
Oklahoma City, OK-After playing and winning 2 emotional games to open to conference slate of the schedule, the Tigers brutal travel schedule had them play at Mid America Christian University, to complete the brutal 3 game road stretch to a team in the receiving votes section of the national rankings on Monday night. The Tigers shooting woes from the field and free throw line, to go with foul trouble in the post were the difference as the Tigers dropped their 1^st of the season, 83-68.
 
Central got on the board to start the game, but it was the Lions who led the game from that 1^st bucket to the buzzer.  MACU held the Tigers to a season half low in points, as Jevarrick Butler was the bright spot offensively with 10 points. The Lions led 43-29 at the half.
 
The Lions grew the lead to 17, but a 15-8 stretch brought the game to 10 with 7 minutes to go, led by 7 points by Chris Whitten during that stretch, on his way to 16 points in the 2^nd half and a leading 22 points for the game. But each time the Tigers made a run, the Lions responded with one of their own. Defensively the Lions held Butler scoreless for the 2^nd half. Omari Maulana added 15 points for the game and Malachi Farr chipped in 10, as Tigers shooting started coming together in the 2^nd half, but it was not enough as the Tigers fell to the Lions 83-68, and fall to 6-1 on the season.
 
Key Stat: The Tigers shot 9-19 (47%) from the Free Throw Line
 
Team Leaders:
Points: Chris Whitten (22)
Rebounds: Jevarrick Butler (5)
Assists: Omari Maulana (3)
Steals: Jevarrick Butler (2), Andre Shelby (2)
Blocks: Andre Shelby
 
The Tigers (6-1) return from their 3 game road trip and host the Oklahoma City University Stars (6-1) on Saturday Afternoon. Tip is scheduled for 4:00pm and can be seen on the SAC Sports Network.