Memphis-area sophomore Seth Grandberry scored 22 points while playing the entire game, but that was not enough to help the University of Arkansas at Monticello men’s basketball team overcome an 18-point halftime deficit as Oklahoma Baptist University took a 74-56 win Thursday night in Shawnee, Okla.
Grandberry made 10 of 18 shots from the floor and collected 3 steals. UAM (3-5, 0-2 Great American) had 11 steals but committed 9 turnovers, while Oklahoma Baptist overcame 13 turnovers and had 7 steals.
Noah Thomas scored 13 points and Harouna Sissoko had 9 points for the Weevils, who made 21 of 55 (38.2%) from the field including 7 of 22 from 3-point territory. The Weevils made just 7 of 16 free throws.
The Bison (4-3, 1-0) went 11 for 20 from 3-point range and 27 for 50 (54%) from the floor. Much of that had to do with the shooting of Ricky Brown, who nailed 5 of 7 3-point attempts and led Oklahoma Baptist with 17 points.
Ethan Scott had 14 points, Nathan Wilson 12 and Daniel Ransom 10 for the Bison, who led 38-20 at halftime.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
WOMEN: Oklahoma Baptist 70, UAM 64
In Shawnee, the Cotton Blossoms stormed back from a 15-point deficit with 3:33 left and trailed 62-61 with 2:37 left in the game before the Bison hit free throws down the stretch to hold off the rally for a 70-64 win.
Kelsey Blakemore made 2 free throws that got UAM (5-3, 0-2 Great American) within a point, but the Blossoms missed 3 short-range shots after a rebound and Katelyn Davis laid in a basket with 1:42 left to pad the Bison’s lead. The Bison (5-2, 1-0) made their last 6 free throws the rest of the way to win.
Mackenzie Crusoe scored 26 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and made 5 assists for Oklahoma Baptist. Crusoe converted 11 of 14 free throws.
Camille Pritchard led UAM with 21 points and 9 rebounds. Bailey Harris added 15 points and 6 rebounds.
Both teams shot below 20% from 3-point range, but Oklahoma Baptist made 21 of 59 (35.6%) from the floor, a slight edge over UAM (21 of 63, 33.3%). The Bison made 23 of 29 free throws, while the Blossoms’ 19-for-29 foul shooting came back to haunt them.
The Bison, who were ahead 37-27 at halftime, led for nearly 36 minutes of the game, last trailing at the 6:47 mark of the second quarter.
UAM’s teams will next play at Harding University in Searcy on Dec. 12.