Ashton Price nearly registered a double-double in leading the University of Arkansas at Monticello to a 61-54 home win over Arkansas Tech University in men’s basketball Thursday.
Price scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Boll Weevils (5-6, 1-4 Great American), who ended a four-game losing streak in picking up their first conference win. The junior from Dallas made 8 of 13 field goals, one of two Weevils to shoot better than 50% from the floor.
Isaac Jackson was the other, shooting 6 for 11 and finishing with 14 points. GianCarlo Valdez added 10 points and seven rebounds for UAM.
The game was tied at 49-all until Jakob Zenon made a three-pointer with 5:40 to go, putting UAM up for good. Zenon, who transferred from Arkansas Tech, had eight points.
The Weevils stormed back from a 44-37 deficit with 11:49 left and led by as much as 61-51 with 11 seconds remaining.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAM, which led 30-27 at halftime, made 24 of 51 (47.1%) from the floor, going 4 for 12 from three-point range, and shot 9 for 14 in free throws. Arkansas Tech went 18 for 54 (33.3%), going 8 for 21 behind the arc, and making 10 of 12 free throws.
David Elliott IV was the only double-digit scorer for the Wonder Boys (4-7, 2-3), finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Reggie Reinhardt added nine points in the loss.
UAM begins a 16-day break for the holidays before returning to action Jan. 3 at Henderson State University. The Weevils won’t play again in Steelman Field House until Jan. 15.
WOMEN: ARKANSAS TECH 67, UAM 57
Also at Steelman Field House on Thursday, Arkansas Tech (7-2, 3-2 Great American) held UAM to four second-quarter points in turning an early deficit into a dominating performance.
UAM (5-6, 0-5) lost its fifth game in a row after allowing an 18-4 second quarter by the Golden Suns to drop them to a 30-19 hole. The Cotton Blossoms last led 17-16 with 6:15 left in the second quarter.
Arkansas Tech’s largest lead was 54-33 late in the third quarter. The Suns made 25 of 53 (47.2%) from the floor, making 4 of 14 three-point attempts, and went 13 for 20 at the foul line.
UAM shot 20 for 53 (37.7%) but made 6 of 17 three-point shots. The Blossoms converted 11 of 16 free throws.
Logan Young totaled 17 points, AbbiGrace Cunningham 13 and Perina Leime 11 for the Suns. Alindsey Long and Alyssa Batton each scored 12 points for the Blossoms, who also won’t play again until Jan. 3 at Henderson State.