Weevils overcome Harding at home

Isaac Jackson completed a 3-point play with 59 seconds left to put the University of Arkansas at Monticello up for good in an 81-77 men’s basketball win over Harding University on Saturday in Monticello.

Jackson finished with 23 points and 5 assists. His free throw marked the start of a 7-for-7 stretch at the line to close out the win for the Boll Weevils (3-5, 1-2 Great American).

Zane Nelson scored 21 points and Josh Denton had 13 for the Weevils, who led 44-41 at halftime.

Harding (5-4, 2-1) surged from a 69-63 deficit with 6:42 left to tie the game at 70-all on a Keyln McBride 3-point basket with 2:16 remaining. J.T. Smith scored and was fouled in the paint, then made the free throw with 1:16 left to give the Bisons a 73-72 lead.

Jackson’s go-ahead bucket was the last field goal for the Weevils, who scored 42 points in the paint to Harding’s 28.

Harding pulled within 7775 on two Rylie Marshall free throws with 31 seconds to go.

Both teams shot 50% or better in both halves. Harding shot a blistering 14 for 20 (70%) in the first 20 minutes and finished the game 25 for 41 (61%), as Wyatt Gilbert and Smith combined to make 5 of 5. The Bisons went 9 for 17 from the perimeter and made 18 of 25 free throws for 72%.

UAM converted 28 of 53 field goals for 52.8%. The Weevils were 16 for 29 (55.2%) in the first half.

UAM also was 5 for 9 from 3-point range and 20 for 24 in free throws.

McBride scored 16 points, Abou Gbane and Marshall 14 each and UAPB transfer Brahm Harris 11 for the Bisons.

WOMEN

Harding 66, UAM 65

Earlier Saturday in Monticello, Sage Hawley’s jumpshot with 46 seconds left proved the winning basket for the Bisons (7-1, 3-0 Great American) over the Cotton Blossoms (4-5, 0-3).

UAM took a 65-64 lead on two Alyssia Thorne free throws with 1:57 left after trailing 57-48 with 7:18 remaining.

Bailey Harris led the Blossoms with 18 points and 4 rebounds. Thorne had 16 points and 8 rebounds, Kelsey Blakemore 12 points and 3 boards and Haleigh Crews 11 points and 3 assists.

Josie Williams scored 16 points to lead Harding. Hawley finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds and Aubrey Isbell threw in 12 points.

UAM, which shot 24 for 57 (42.1%) from the floor, led 28-24 at halftime after holding Harding to 1-of-12 fieldgoal shooting in the second quarter. The Blossoms made 5 of 12 3-pointers and 12 of 13 free throws.

Harding struggled from the floor throughout the game, making 22 of 58 for 37.9% (5 of 16 from 3-point range), and was 17 for 21 in free throws.

Both UAM teams will play their final games of 2023 next Saturday at Ouachita Baptist University, starting with the women’s game at 1 p.m. UAM then will host Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Jan. 4.