The University of Arkansas at Monticello waited eight days since its men’s basketball rivalry win over Southern Arkansas to play another game, but it wasn’t the snow or ice that tripped up the Boll Weevils in their latest trip to Oklahoma.
UAM played on back-to-back nights in the Sooner State, losing 64-50 to previously ranked Southern Nazarene in Bethany on Friday and making the short trip to Shawnee, where 15th-ranked Oklahoma Baptist beat the Weevils 70-60 Saturday.
Both Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma Baptist have completed season sweeps of UAM (8-11, 4-9 Great American), who is tied with three other teams for last place in the conference.
At Southern Nazarene, Isaac Jackson was the only Weevil in double figures with 28 points. He made 12 of 14 field-goal attempts.
Giancarlo Valdez added eight points for the Weevils, who trailed 40-20 at halftime. Joe Mpoyo led Southern Nazarene (15-4, 9-4 after Saturday) with 22 points.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
At Oklahoma Baptist, Ashton Price and Jackson each scored 17 points. For the Bison (17-2, 11-2 Great American), Erik Madrid led with 19 points, followed by Joshua Udoumoh with 14 and Terry Coner Jr. with 12.
The Bison led 31-26 at halftime.
UAM is scheduled for a home weekend, hosting Southeastern Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and East Central at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Arkansas Tech game in Russellville rescheduled from Jan. 26 is now scheduled for Feb. 9.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The UAM women’s team followed up a 66-49 loss to Southern Nazarene on Friday with a 65-60 defeat at Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday.
Three Southern Nazarene players scored in double figures, leading with Nessa Begay’s 17 points, Jillian Crawford’s 12 and Shannon Burton’s 12. Opal Hardy led UAM with 12 points, followed by Brilynn Findley with nine. The Crimson Storm (7-10, 7-6 through Saturday) led the Cotton Blossoms 25-12 through one quarter and 35-24 at halftime.
Four Oklahoma Baptist players scored in double figures against UAM: Jaedyn Getman (21 points), Katelyn Davis (16), Jordyn Anderson (10) and Brenna Butler (10). Alyssa Batton led the Blossoms (6-13, 1-12) with 19 points, followed by Brilynn Findley, Taleigha Ealy and Jena Warden with 10 each.
Oklahoma Baptist improved to 10-9 and 6-7 in the conference with the win.
The Blossoms will return to action in Monticello this week, hosting Southeastern Oklahoma State at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and East Central at 1 p.m. Saturday.
BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL
The winter weather has forced the cancellation of UAM’s baseball season opener at the Dugan Invitational in Hot Springs.
The Boll Weevils, hoping to build on a second straight appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs, will open with a four-game home series with Northwest Missouri State. The first game is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Weevils Field at Union Bank Park, followed by a doubleheader at 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday and the finale at noon Sunday.
The UAM softball team was scheduled to open this Sunday at the Branson Lead Off Classic in Branson, Mo., taking on Upper Iowa and Minnesota-Crookston. The Cotton Blossoms on Monday are scheduled to face Missouri S&T at 11 a.m. and Central Oklahoma at 1 p.m. in Branson.