MONTICELLO – Jakob Zenon didn’t waste an opportunity to jump into the University of Arkansas at Monticello record book.
Zenon tied the school record for made 3-point shots and scored a season-high 36 points in the Boll Weevils’ 106-61 men’s basketball win over Ecclesia College on Saturday at Steelman Field House. The win keeps the Weevils (4-2) unbeaten through four games of a seven-game homestand.
“I think it’s just finding our roles,” the senior from Fort Worth, Texas, said. “We’re just a hard team to beat.”
Zenon, a senior transfer from Arkansas Tech University, tied the record set by Jimmy Robbins against Arkansas Baptist College during the 1987-1988 season. Zenon’s 22 attempts from the perimeter was one shy of record set by Monticello native Steve Green against Texas-Arlington in the 2000-2001 season.
Zenon made 13 of 25 from the floor and had 8 rebounds in 34 minutes of work. His 36 points also set a new team high for this season.
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“I think it’s just not having that doubleheader,” he said. “It gives me time to warm up. I think that’s what it was.”
He and other UAM starters saw extensive playing time in a game against Ecclesia (0-11), a National Christian College Athletic Association team from Springdale coached by former UA-Pine Bluff assistant women’s coach Cary Shelton. At least three potential starters for the Weevils have been out due to significant injuries, leaving the team with nine available players.
Senior guard Charles Temple (shoulder) and freshman guard Jackson Edwards (knee) are out for the season with injuries. Fifth-year Coach Chad Tapp said two other players he didn’t name went back home with injuries but added graduate forward Giancarlo Bastianoni, who last played at New Hampshire, and Blytheville senior Lamont Jackson are expected to return in the coming weeks.
“It looks bad we’re leaving a starter out there in a blowout, but we’ve only got nine guys dressed and Isaac (Jackson) goes out with an eye (injury),” Tapp said. Jackson still finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes of action.
“We feel good about our starters, and then Felix Smedjeback has come on,” Tapp said. Smedjeback scored 9 points off the bench.
“He’ll do some things that make you mad, but God, he plays so hard, and he can shoot it,” Tapp said. “He’s come on and earned some minutes.”
UAM trailed for only 14 seconds at 3-2 but shot 58.8% from the floor (20 for 34) in the first half and built a 50-26 lead at halftime. Jackson scored the last 7 points of the half including a jumper off an inbound pass at the buzzer.
The Weevils ended up shooting 39 for 72 (54.2%) from the floor, including 13 for 32 (40.6%) from 3-point range, and made 15 of 20 free throws. They scored 27 points off 21 Royals turnovers and led by as much as 102-55 with 2:34 left.
Ashton Price scored 16 points, shooting 7 of 13 from the floor, and had 5 rebounds, and Josh Smith totaled 15 points and 11 rebounds for UAM. The Weevils out-rebounded Ecclesia 45-31.
Christian Ford led Ecclesia with 20 points and 6 rebounds, shooting 9 for 18 from the floor. Adrian Nelson added 14 points.
The Royals finished 22 for 54 (40.7%) from the field but were 6 for 24 from the arc. They converted 11 of 21 free throws for 52.4%.
Great American Conference play begins for the Weevils with two ranked teams coming to Steelman, No. 19 Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday and No. 7 Southern Nazarene on Saturday. Southern Nazarene is the defending regular-season conference champion and finished second to Harding in last season’s tournament championship.
“We needed to get these wins,” Tapp said. “We’ve still not played real well this year.”