State sports briefs

SAU coach resigns

Southern Arkansas University women’s basketball coach Julio Pacheco resigned Thursday for personal reasons, Athletic Director Steve Browning announced.

Pacheco’s resignation comes at the conclusion of his third season, when the Muleriders finished 9-19. His career record at Southern Arkansas is 34-48.

Pacheco was named the Great American Conference Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year after he led Southern Arkansas to a 19-9 record, the program’s highest in NCAA Division II, during the 2015-2016 season that ended in the GAC Tournament semifinals.

A nationwide search for Southern Arkansas’ next women’s basketball coach will begin immediately.

Harding advances to GAC semifinals

No. 4 seed Harding University shot 50 percent or better in every quarter to defeat No. 5 seed Southeastern Oklahoma 73-63 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Great American Conference Tournament at Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Okla.

Kellie Lampo, the GAC Freshman of the Year, had 19 points and 9 rebounds for Harding (17-14), which advances to meet No. 1 seed Southwestern Oklahoma at 5:45 p.m. today in the semifinals. Lampo set a tournament record for field goals made without a miss, going 8 for 8.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

UAM wins in double overtime

Derylton Hill had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists, and Cobe Goosby added 19 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the University of Arkansas-Monticello to a 97-86 double overtime victory over East Central in the quarterfinals of the Great American Conference Tournament on Friday at Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Okla.

The Weevils (18-11) will face No. 2 seed Northwestern Oklahoma State at 2:15 p.m. today in the semifinals.

ATU falls in GAC quarterfinal Southeastern Oklahoma State won its first postseason game since 2007 as the Savage Storm withstood multiple rallies from Arkansas Tech University en route to an 85-83 victory Friday in the quarterfinals of the Great American Conference Tournament at Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Okla.

Alex Brown scored a game-high 27 points and R.J. Glasper added 24 points for the Wonder Boys (18-11).

The Savage Storm (15-3) will face Southern Nazarene at noon today in the semifinals.

BASEBALL

Northwestern State rallies past UALR Northwestern State scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat the University of Arkansas at Little Rock 6-5 on Friday in Little Rock.

Marcus Ragan, Riley Pittman and Kale Emshoff each had two hits for the Trojans (5-5).

Creighton pours it on late to beat UCA Creighton scored five runs in the eighth and four in the ninth to rout the University of Central Arkansas 12-5 on Friday in Conway.

Coby Potvin and Hunter Strong each had two hits for the Bears (2-6).

Rios, Wagner lead UAM to victory Andres Rios went 3 for 5 with 1 home run, 2 doubles, 4 RBI and 3 runs, and Sean Wagner had 3 hits and 1 home run to key an 18-12 victory Friday for the University of Arkansas-Monticello (11-3, 7-0 GAC) over Southern Nazarene in Bethany, Okla.