One of the top teams in the Great American Conference came to Steelman Fieldhouse on Saturday, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello had eyes on an upset.
It wasn’t to be, though, as Oklahoma Baptist outlasted the Boll Weevils 75-70.
UAM (4-16, 1-13 GAC) led for most of the game. The Weevils led by as much as 43-36 in the second half.
OBU (13-7, 10-4) used runs of 8-2 and 9-3 to retake the lead. Two Devin Davis free throws gave UAM a 54-53 lead, but the Bison retook the lead from the line and never trailed again.
Seth Grandberry kept the Boll Weevils in the game with a pair of 3-pointers in the final minutes, and UAM had the deficit down to 69-67 with 1:17 remaining, but OBU put the game away with a layup by Nathan Wilson and 4 straight points by JC Curry, including a late dunk. Grandberry made one last 3-pointer in the final seconds, but it wasn’t enough.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Grandberry scored a game-high 26 points after making 5 of 11 from 3-point range. He also led the team with seven rebounds. Tadarius Jacobs added 16 points for UAM.
Curry led the Bison with 20 points, with Daniel Ransom adding 18 points and eight rebounds.
WOMEN: OBU 71, UAM 62
The UAM women squandered the lead in the fourth quarter Saturday in a home loss to Oklahoma Baptist.
UAM (9-10, 4-9) led 53-46 entering the final 10 minutes. The teams were tied at 15 following the first quarter, then the Cotton Blossoms outscored the Bison 17-14 in the second and 21-17 in the third.
OBU (13-6, 9-4) opened the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run with two 3-pointers. A layup by sophomore guard Parker Stevenson tied the game at 55.
The Blossoms retook the lead twice in the minutes which followed, but an 11-0 OBU run put the Bison in the lead for good. UAM did not score from the field after Nicole Weaver’s jumper with 4:40 remaining, only managing two Kennedee Shelton free throws.
Stevenson scored a game-high 18 points, with Mackenzie Crusoe scoring 15 points and Kennedy Large adding 11 for OBU.
Shelton led UAM with 17 points, followed by Bailey Harris with 10.