Southern Arkansas University outscored the University of Arkansas at Monticello 52-37 in the second half, and the Muleriders defended their home court in Magnolia on Thursday with an 80-65 men’s basketball victory.
Both teams shot better than 50% following a 28-all first half, but the Muleriders (10-13, 7-10 Great American) were hot from the floor in the second half, going 15 for 24 (62.5%) percent. Four SAU players scored in double figures, including Jair Horton with 18 points and eight rebounds, Greg Moore Jr. with 13 points, reserve Chase Jenkins with 14 and Roderick Williams Jr. with 12. Pine Bluff High School alumnus Troy’reon Ramos also had eight in the win.
Ashton Price led UAM with 21 points, followed by Josh Smith with 12 and Giancarlo Valdez with 11 points and six assists.
A three-point lead for SAU grew to 52-38 over a 2-minute span in the second half after the Muleriders connected on three straight three-point tries. The largest lead was 72-53 after Ramos made two free throws with 4:05 left, and UAM (9-14, 5-12) never again pulled within single digits.
UAM shot 24 for 54 (44.4%) from the floor, 9 for 24 from the arc, and 8 for 10 in free throws. SAU finished 24 for 51 (47.1%), 8 for 20 from the perimeter, and 24 of 26 in free throws.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
WOMEN: SAU 56, UAM 48
Earlier Thursday, the Lady Riders (11-12, 7-10 Great American) outscored the Cotton Blossoms 19-10 in the fourth to wrap up a season sweep of their archrivals.
SAU overcame a 2-for-17 shooting performance from the three-point arc and relied on 28 points in the paint and a 46-31 rebounding advantage over UAM (6-17, 1-16). Kennedy Moss led Southern Arkansas with 14 points, Hope Bump added 13 and Marlee Bright had 12 rebounds and four steals to go with eight points.
Brilynn Findley and Alindsey Long led UAM with 15 points apiece. Long went 3 for 7 from the arc, as UAM shot 6 for 17 as a team.
Jena Warden added 10 points for the Blossoms, who made just 19 of 54 (35.2%) from the floor and 4 of 7 free throws. SAU made 21 of 59 (35.6%) from the field and 12 of 15 free throws.
UAM’s teams will host Henderson State on Saturday, starting with the women’s game at 1 p.m.
SOFTBALL: UAM 7, Northeastern State 6
In Tahlequah, Okla., on Friday, Carleigh Deeds scored on an error at third base to give UAM a nine-inning, 7-6 win over host Northeastern State in the Cherokee Nation Softball Festival.
The Cotton Blossoms (6-3) led 6-3 going into the seventh inning, when Annsleigh Morris doubled to score three runs and tie the game for the RiverHawks (7-3). It was the second tie of the game, after Northeastern State tied the game at 2-2 on a fourth-inning double.
UAM’s Cada Collins launched a two-run home run in the first, also scoring Ashlynne Vote. Collins also drove in a run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Blossoms a three-run lead.
Makenzie Martin also had a two-run single in the fifth.