Men's Basketball Readies for Home Matchup with Ouachita

2025-26 Men's Basketball Game Notes

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. -- Henderson State men's basketball will host Ouachita Baptist on Thursday in the second Battle of the Ravine of the 2025-26 season. Tipoff from the Duke Wells Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Henderson State wraps up a four-game homestand Thursday night with the second Battle of the Ravine of the 2025-26 season. The Reddies are hoping to avenge a 90-60 loss at Ouachita from January 22nd, as well as break a five-game losing skid to its intra-city rival.

HSU fell to Southern Arkansas Monday night after allowing the Muleriders to shoot 59 percent from the floor and 65 percent from three-point range. In spite of those numbers, the Reddies got the game to within single digits multiple times, including closing the gap to six points with two minutes remaining in the game.

The Reddies struggles from the three-point line have continued. The team ranks 12th in the conference in made three pointers per game, averaging just four made baskets per game. Even so, the team remains in the top half of the GAC in scoring offense with 73.1 points per game.

Henderson boasts multiple players ranked in the top five in the conference in individual categories: junior guard Zaveion Okoh ranks fifth in total points and total points per game while ranking third in total steals, while forward Tyson Whybrew is the fifth-best in the league in offensive rebounding with 2.6 per contest.

Scouting Ouachita Baptist

With this week's number-16 ranking, Ouachita Baptist has earned their highest ranking in the NCAA era. The Tigers have spent the last three weeks in the NABC top-25 poll.

The Tigers' defense has paced the league for a majority of the year, and is a large factor in their success this season. OBU ranks best in the conference and the sixth-best in Division 2, holding teams to just 38 percent shooting from the field. They also rank first in the GAC and fourth in the country in scoring defense, yielding just 61.5 points per game.

Ouachita yielded its highest scoring output in Monday's loss to Harding; the Tigers fell 79-69 to the Bisons in Searcy despite a higher field goal percentage and just two fewer three-point field goals. The main difference came at the free throw line, where Harding made 26 shots to the Tigers' 12.

Last Meeting: The Reddies trailed from the opening minutes as Ouachita built a 53-27 halftime lead behind efficient shooting and a 13-0 run midway through the first half. Henderson State shot 28.6 percent from the field in the opening period and went 1 of 9 from three-point range. Henderson State improved its shooting after the break but could not cut into the deficit. The Reddies shot 50 percent in the second half but were outscored 37-33.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Zaveion Okoh: G; 6' 4"; Junior

#15 Tyson Whybrew: F; 6' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#11 Zaveion Okoh
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G

#15 Tyson Whybrew
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

Players Mentioned

#11 Zaveion Okoh

#15 Tyson Whybrew

Players Mentioned

#11 Zaveion Okoh

#15 Tyson Whybrew

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