In the final seconds Thursday night at home against a rival, the University of Arkansas at Monticello needed one last shot to complete an improbable comeback.
The shot didn’t go in, and Southern Arkansas survived for a 77-74 win against the UAM men’s basketball team at Steelman Fieldhouse.
SAU (10-13, 7-10 GAC) led by as much as 65-49 with 10:04 to play. The Boll Weevils cut the deficit to single digits three times, but SAU sophomore Anthony Igiede restored the double-digit lead with 3:14 remaining, 75-65.
UAM (4-19, 1-16) got back within single digits thanks to sophomore guard Seth Grandberry’s fourth 3-pointer of the game. SAU then scored its final points of the night with 2:28 to play on a jumper by senior Carel Ray Jr.
From there, tip-ins by UAM forward Alex Brogdon and guard Devin Davis and a layup from guard Tadarius Jacobs got the deficit down to 77-74 with 51 seconds to play. Jacobs stole the ball from SAU with 29 seconds left. After a timeout, the Boll Weevils got the ball to Grandberry for one last 3-pointer which would have tied the game.
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The shot missed, and Mulerider sophomore Nevi Tell collected a game-clinching defensive rebound for SAU.
Grandberry finished with a game-high 20 points and six rebounds, with Davis adding 18 points for UAM. Ray led SAU with 17 points, followed by Igiede with 14 points and seven rebounds.
WOMEN: SAU 72, UAM 62
Southern Arkansas scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from the UAM women.
UAM (9-14, 4-13 GAC) led 19-18 after the first quarter, but SAU took the lead early in the second quarter on a jumper by freshman Johnna Brockman.
SAU (12-11, 7-10) never trailed again, though a 3-point play by UAM freshman Mahogany Pierce tied the game at 49 with 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter. SAU junior Elena Lijo-Rodriguez beat the buzzer with a layup to restore SAU’s lead, and the Muleriders led the rest of the game.
UAM senior Bailey Harris and SAU graduate student Addy Tremie each scored 19 points to lead their respective teams. SAU senior Tequaza Chambers followed with 16 points and seven rebounds.