Four Boll Weevils scored in double figures, helping the University of Arkansas at Monticello take a 70-62 men’s basketball victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State on Thursday night at Steelman Field House in Monticello.
Isaac Jackson scored 19 points, Ashton Price had 15 points and Jakob Zenon and Giancarlo Valez each totaled 14 points for the Weevils (9-11, 5-9 Great American), who snapped a two-game slide. Valdez also had 12 rebounds and four assists.
The three-ball proved one of the Weevils’ best friends Thursday. They made 10 of 15 (66.7%) from the arc and 25 of 50 (50%) from the floor overall, while converting 10 of 13 free throws. Zenon canned 4 of 5 treys.
UAM survived a seesaw game that saw the lead change hands 16 times and the score tied four times. The Weevils led 41-33 at halftime but were held to one field goal over the first 6 minutes in the second half as the Savage Storm outscored them 19-3 to take a five-point lead.
The lead grew to 55-48 with 11:05 left following a Chandler Dickinson three-pointer. Jackson answered with three straight treys to the Weevils ahead for good, starting a 13-0 upswing.
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Southeastern (5-15, 4-10) pulled within 66-62 on a Deondre Dunn three-pointer with 48 seconds left, but Zenon and Valdez combined to make 4 of 4 free throws to put away the Storm.
For Southeastern, Tyler Long had 14 points, Ethan Wilkerson 13, Saxon McWilliam 11 and Chandler Dickson nine points and nine rebounds. The Storm made just 22 of 59 (37.3%) from the field, including 9 of 32 (28.1%) from the arc, but went 9 for 9 at the foul line.
WOMEN: Southeastern 57, UAM 52
Also Thursday in Monticello, Southeastern Oklahoma State outscored UAM 22-7 in the fourth quarter, sending the Cotton Blossoms to their fourth loss in a row.
The Savage Storm (9-11, 6-8 Great American), who didn’t shoot a free throw in the first half, finished 15 for 19 at the line, with Tori Kilburn making 10 of 12. Kilburn finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and three assists, hitting 4 of 4 free throws in the final 8 seconds to ice the Cotton Blossoms (6-14, 1-13).
UAM led 48-36 with 8:34 left, but Akiera Hawk, Katelynn Allen and Kilburn led a resurgence that allowed the Savage Storm to take a 52-50 lead on two Allen free throws with 2:04 remaining. The Blossoms did not make another shot from the floor after Brilynn Findley scored on a layup at the 4:39 mark for a 50-44 lead at the time.
Allen finished with 19 points. For UAM, Alindsey Long scored 14 points, Alyssa Batton had 12 points and Findley totaled eight points and 11 rebounds.
The Blossoms led 23-22 at halftime.
UAM will host East Central University at 1 p.m. Saturday, with the men’s game to follow.