Two free throws by Tyrell Coleman with 3 seconds left were all Southern Nazarene University needed to pick up a 72-70 win over the University of Arkansas at Monticello in the first round of the Great American Conference tournament Friday in Shawnee, Okla.
The loss ends the Boll Weevils’ season at 13-15. They tied SNU (15-13) in conference standings at 11-11, but the Crimson Storm were awarded the fourth seed and the Weevils the fifth seed after tiebreakers.
Zane Nelson, known for performing in the clutch throughout the season, sank a 3-point basket with 3 seconds left in regulation to force overtime at 64-all. Nelson led the Weevils with 24 points, making up for a 6-for-23 shooting performance from the floor with a 10-for-10 free throw clip in all 45 minutes of action.
Isaac Jackson scored 22 points, Josh Denton added 12 points and 9 rebounds and Wesley Booker had 16 rebounds to go with 2 points for UAM.
Coleman energized the Crimson Storm with 28 points and 8 rebounds, making 11 of 16 shots from the field. Jonas Visser added 12 points and Ben Baker-McCann dropped in 10 points.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The game was tied at 31-all at halftime.
SNU had the shooting edge from the floor, making 27 of 57 (47.4%) compared with UAM’s 23 for 62 (37.1%). Neither team shot well from the perimeter, as SNU made just 1 of 14 threes and UAM had 4 of 17.
The Weevils converted 20 of 21 free throws, while the Crimson Storm made 17 of 23.
SNU went on to defeat top-seeded Southeastern Oklahoma State 86-72 on Saturday and will play No. 2-seed Arkansas Tech, which beat Northwestern Oklahoma State 54-53, in today’s championship game.
ON THE DIAMOND
UAM moved its weekend baseball series against Harding University to today and Monday in Monticello. A doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m., with Game 3 set for 1 p.m. Monday.
The Weevils (9-8, 7-2 Great American) have lost three in a row following a 13-8 loss to Mississippi College on Wednesday.
UAM’s softball team (12-10, 4-2 Great American) started a conference series at Harding on Saturday in Searcy. A doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. today.
Southeast Arkansas College hosted North Arkansas College on Saturday in Pine Bluff and will take on the Pioneers in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. today.