POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- Houghton men's basketball played tough throughout, forcing overtime late, but losing to #3 Ohio Christian 84-76 on the first day of the 2025 NCCAA National Tournament on Wednesday in Missouri.

After a slow start, (3) Ohio Christian University would go on a 9-0 run in the middle of the first half to take a 29-21 lead. DJ Bogay capped the run with four straight points. Houghton University would use their first timeout of the game after the Trailblazers run. Ohio Christian would hold that lead the remainder of the first half despite the Highlanders inching closer. Ohio Christian dominated the boards in the first half with 19 rebounds and eight second chance points to lead 35-32 at halftime. Houghton would regain the lead four minutes into the second half for the first time since the 11:13 mark of the first half, as Lou Bellamy hit a pair of free throws to put them up 42-40. 

The Highlanders continued to add to their lead with back-to-back threes from Donovan Loudermill and James Wang to go up by eight with 10:13 to play. Ohio Christian had no answer, sitting at 2-24 from behind the arc with just over seven minutes to play. After both sides traded free throw opportunities down the stretch that helped Ohio Christian inch back into the game, Parker Penrod would hit a crucial shot in the final minute to go up by two, 68-66. Jajuan Preaster would answer immediately with 18 seconds left for Houghton, to tie the game at 68 and force overtime. 

In the overtime period, Ohio Christian would get inside to take the lead early and hold it. CJ Faulkner would hit the dagger three with just over a minute to go, just the fourth Ohio Christian three of the game, to secure the win.

Preaster led the Highlanders with 30 points and seven rebounds on the night. Christian Sage (20) and Lou Bellamy (10) rounded out the double-digit scorers for Houghton.

The Highlanders move on to day 2 where they will take on host College of the Ozarks at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

Four more NCCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship games will be played tomorrow at College of the Ozarks. Action will begin at noon CT with consolation play and be followed by semifinal action starting at 7 p.m. CT. For more information on the NCCAA DI Men's Basketball Championships visit the link here.