Boll Weevils defeat Bulldogs with last-second shot at buzzer
MONTICELLO — The University of Arkansas at Monticello men’s basketball team returned to Great American Conference play at home Saturday and came out with a 56-54 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Isaac Jackson buzzer-beater.
Zane Nelson led the way for UAM (4-7, 2-4 GAC) with 23 points, going 6 for 18 on total field goals, 2 for 9 from beyond the three point line, and 9 for 12 from the line. He also contributed four defensive rebounds on top of four steals and three assists in his 40 minutes played.
Wesley Booker posted a double-double performance on the night, scoring 10 points of his own and grabbing two offensive and 11 defensive rebounds on the evening for 13 total. Booker was 4 for 7 on field goals and 2 for 3 on threes with an assist.
Southwestern Oklahoma was led by Ben Smith with 21 points.
Although the Bulldogs were the first on the board, after a back-and-forth that saw the score tied four times, a jumper from Booker pushed UAM ahead of SWOSU for the remainder of the opening 20 minutes. The Boll Weevils would lead as much as 25-10 over the Bulldogs.
UAM shot 42% on field goals in the half, compared to Southwestern Oklahoma’s 27%. The teams would head to the locker rooms with UAM on top, 25-12.
The second 20 minutes saw another aggressive display of basketball between the two teams, with 73 points scored between them. UAM held on to the lead for the majority of the half, seeing SWOSU climb its way back to a 52-52 game with 2:17 left on the clock.
After two free throws from Nelson and a last-second buzzer-beater for Jackson, the Boll Weevils came out of the match-up with the win.
UAM committed 11 turnovers.
WOMEN SW OKLAHOMA 74, UAM 69
Also in Monticello, junior Bailey Harris was once again the leading scorer for UAM(4-8, 0-6 GAC) with 21 points, going 6 for 14 on total field goals, 2 for 5 on threes, and 7 for 10 from the free throw line. She grabbed one offensive and five defensive rebounds on the afternoon, also contributing a block in her 35 minutes played.
Alyssia Thorne grabbed her second double-double performance of the season, with 17 points and 10 total rebounds, six offensive and four defensive. Thorne hit 5 of 8 from the floor and 7 of 9 in free throws while also giving the Blossoms 3 assists, a block and a steal.
Jayla Stirgus was the final Blossom in double-digits, scoring 15 points against the Lady Bulldogs. Stirgus saw 18 minutes of play, but hit 3 of 7 field goals, 2 of 3 three-pointers, and 7 of 8 shots from the line with three assists and two defensive rebounds.
Southwestern Oklahoma (7-5, 4-2 GAC) was led by Libbi Zinn with 17 points.
The Weevils and Blossoms will return to action Thursday against East Central University in Ada, Okla. Tipoff for the women’s game is at 5:30, with the men’s game to follow.