Southeast Arkansas College has responded from last Thursday’s close loss to region and district champion South Arkansas College with a pair of convincing wins while remaining in the NJCAA Division II men’s basketball top 25.
The Sharks slipped three notches to No. 24 following the 87-83 home loss to SouthArk, but they have remained in the thick of the Region 2 race following Monday’s 86-76 win over defending national champion National Park College in Hot Springs and Tuesday’s 101-52 thumping of Champion Christian College, also from Spa City, at UAPB’s H.O. Clemmons Arena. SEARK (14-3, 5-2 Region 2) is just a half-game behind North Arkansas College, Arkansas State University Mid-South and SouthArk (each 6-2 in Region 2) with nine league games remaining.
The Sharks will make a 2-game dip into southwest Arkansas, resuming Region 2 play Thursday night against the University of Arkansas-Cossatot at the old Lockesburg High School gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., following the women’s game at 5:30.
On Saturday SEARK will visit Camden to take on Southern Arkansas University Tech in a makeup date due to the winter storm earlier this month. The women’s game will tip off at 3 p.m. followed by the men at 5. SEARK’s next men’s home game will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 27 against ASU-Newport, which does not have a women’s team.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Derek Magwood has been on a tear for the Sharks. He scored 20 points against Champion, to follow up his 22-point effort the night before at National Park. Israel Malone followed up a 15-point game against National Park with 6 against Champion.
Tobias Prall continued his 3-point assault this week. He made 6 treys against National Park and finished with 20 points, then made 5 treys as part of a 17-point game against Champion, extending his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 14. The only game when Prall went without a 3 this season was at Champion on Nov. 11.
Jehu Wright made a big return to the SEARK lineup with a 16-point game against National Park. He scored 7 against Champion.
The SEARK women’s team (8-6, 3-3 Region 2) is looking to return to the win column in Region 2 play at Cossatot. The Shark women had to rebound from a 79-56 loss at National Park with a 59-58 win over Champion behind Amethyst Price’s 17 points and Za’Nyah LeFear’s 14.
SEARK last won back-to-back women’s games Dec. 9-12 against North Arkansas and ASU Mid-South.