CLARKSVILLE, Ark. — The University of St. Thomas men's basketball team suffered its first conference loss of the season, falling 78-76 to the University of the Ozarks. The Celts now stand at 20-2 overall and 12-1 in conference. 

The Eagles came out strong, jumping to a 9-2 lead early. UST responded with a highlight-worthy dunk from Nicholas Buffalo off an assist from Reyce Allen, cutting the deficit to 13-7. However, Ozarks capitalized on their momentum, extending their lead to 24-9 and maintaining control to close the first half up 37-28. 

After the break, the Celts came out with urgency. A jumper from Allen trimmed the lead to seven, and a quick 7-0 run made it a two-point game at 39-37. But Ozarks answered with a surge of their own, pushing the margin back to double digits. 

With just under seven minutes remaining, Angel Johnson converted at the free-throw line to bring the Celts within seven again. In the final minutes, UST made a late push, with Marion Williams and Johnson scoring back-to-back buckets to close the gap to 69-66. However, the Eagles remained composed at the line, extending their lead to 76-69. 

In the final two minutes, the Celts fought back once more. With 30 seconds left, they had cut the deficit to just one at 77-76. But Ozarks sealed the game at the free-throw line, holding on for the narrow victory. 

Leading the Celts was Angel Johnson, who delivered a dominant performance with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists while shooting 43.5% from the field. Marion Williams followed with 20 points, knocking down 3 three-pointers while adding 3 rebounds. Andrew Adebo also made a strong impact, scoring 14 points, including a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line, while securing 6 rebounds.  
 

Up Next 

The Celts continue their road trip, facing Centenary on Feb. 16. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. Stay connected with UST basketball by following @ustmbasketball on Instagram or visiting ustcelts.com.