Isaac Jackson and Ashton Price each scored 20 points, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello expanded a slim halftime lead to take a 68-57 home victory over archrival Southern Arkansas University in men’s basketball Thursday.
The Boll Weevils (8-9, 4-7 Great American) picked up the win a day before a winter storm warning is forecast to impact the state. They were cold through the first 9 minutes of the game, going 0 for 8 from the field after Ashton Price made the first shot attempt, a three-point basket.
SAU (7-10, 4-7) led 15-6 at the 11:00 mark and was ahead 21-11 with 7:49 to go before halftime. A GianCarlo Valdez three started a 7-0 run for the Weevils, and after Jakob Zenon tied the game on a three with 48 seconds remaining, Jackson hit a turnaround shot before the buzzer to give the Weevils a 28-26 edge.
The Weevils outscored the Muleriders 8-0 in the first 2:22 of the second half, only for SAU to draw within 47-44 with 10:31 remaining. Jackson and Felix Smedjeback sank back-to-back treys to push the lead to nine points, and the Weevils eventually were up 58-46 with 6:18 to go. The Muleriders pulled within 58-53 with 3:43 to go but were no closer to the lead.
UAM overcame the early shooting slump to shoot 22 of 55 (40%) from the floor, making 7 of 20 three-point shots. The Weevils made just 17 of 26 free throws.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Jackson collected eight rebounds and three steals in 38 minutes. Price had six rebounds and three assists, and Josh Smith had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Weevils.
For SAU, Jair Horton had 14 points (6 of 6 in free throws) and six rebounds, and Pine Bluff High School graduate Troy’reon Ramos had 10 points. The Muleriders were 19 for 54 (35.2%) from the floor, struggling mightily to score from the three-point arc (1 for 21), and made 18 of 24 free throws.
WOMEN: SAU 77, UAM 75, 2OT
Earlier Thursday in Monticello, a 29-point outing by Alyssa Batton was not enough to give UAM a rivalry victory.
The Cotton Blossoms led 56-48 with 8:10 left in regulation before the Lady Riders (10-7, 6-5 Great American) went on a 10-0 run over the next 4:22 for their first lead since the first half. A three-point play by Alindsey Long and basket by Taleigha Ealy helped the Blossoms build their lead to 63-58 with 1:47 left, only for Kennedy Moss to score SAU’s next two field goals to tie the game.
Moss’ jumpshot with 11 seconds left evened the score at 64-all, and Long and Ealy missed jumpers in the final seconds that otherwise would have given the Blossoms (6-11, 1-10) the win.
Batton tied the game at 73-all on a three-pointer with 2 seconds left in the first overtime. She made 2 of 2 free throws 17 seconds into the next overtime to put UAM in front, only for SAU’s Kadia Ward to tie the score with two free throws and Hope Bump to score the go-ahead layup with 2:25 left. UAM missed two layups and didn’t attempt another shot in the final 1:27 while committing three turnovers.
UAM, which led 41-34 at halftime, had 20 turnovers that led to 18 points for the Lady Riders and scored only two points off nine SAU miscues. SAU made 15 of 25 free throws, while UAM connected on 19 of 29.
Long had 18 points and two blocks, Opal Hardy scored 10 points and Ealy totaled six points and 10 rebounds for the Blossoms. Ward led the Lady Riders with 17 points, followed by Blythe Crawley with 15, Elena Lijo-Rodriguez and Moss each with 13 and Bump with 11.
UAM’s Saturday games at Arkansas Tech University have been rescheduled for Monday due to the winter storm. The women’s tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the men’s game to follow.