Boll Weevils triumph in regular-season finale

The University of Arkansas at Monticello men’s basketball team closed out the regular season at home Saturday afternoon with a 6554 win over Ouachita Baptist University.

The win secured the fifth seed for UAM in this week’s Great American Conference tournament in Shawnee, Okla. UAM will take on No. 4 seed Southern Nazarene University at noon Friday at the FireLake Arena.

Isaac Jackson led the way for UAM (13-14, 11-11 Great American), posting 22 points. Jackson made 7 of 10 free throws with 3 total rebounds, 1 block, and 1 assist in his 40 minutes.

Zane Nelson scored 22 on the night. Nelson was 9 for 10 from the line while contributing 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.

They were followed closely by Josh Denton, who posted 14 points of his own. He also contributed 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in his 23 minutes on the court.

Ouachita Baptist (8-19, 6-16 GAC) was led by Tylar Haynes with 20 points.

The first half of the game saw an aggressive display of basketball for the Weevils, seeing the home team take an 8-0 lead early on a combined effort from Jackson and Nelson. Although the Tigers would eventually find a groove and make the half a back-and-forth battle, Ouachita was unable to reclaim a lead by the end of the period. The teams would head to the locker rooms at half with UAM leading, 26-22.

The second 20 minutes once again remained close as the Weevils fought to keep the lead, seeing as high as a 13-point advantage over the Tigers. As the match-up began to wind down, the Weevils refused to give up their lead.

UAM committed 11 turnovers in the entirety of the match.

If UAM wins Friday, the semifinal Saturday will be against regular-season champion Southeastern Oklahoma State University and No. 8-seed Southern Arkansas University. The championship game is at noon March 9.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

OUACHITA BAPTIST 84, UAM 83, OT (SAT.)

Also Saturday in Monticello, the Cotton Blossoms closed out the season with an overtime loss to the Tigers.

Alindsey Long was the leading scorer for UAM (820, 4-18 GAC) with 17 points, going 7 for 14 on total field goals. Long also contributed two assists and 5 rebounds in her 39 minutes.

Bailey Harris followed close behind, posting 16 points of her own. She hit 7 of 13 field goals. Harris also contributed 5 rebounds and 1 assist for the Blossoms.

Haleigh Crews posted 15 on the night, going 6 for 14 on field goals. Crews also contributed 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal for the Blossoms.

Kelsey Blakemore and Azaria Hubert were the final Blossoms in double digits, scoring 14 and 11 points against the Tigers, respectfully.

Ouachita Baptist (11-15, 9-13 GAC) was led by Laney Mears with 23 points.

UAM committed 13 turnovers in the entirety of the match.

BASEBALL

UAM DROPS SERIES TO OUACHITA

In Arkadelphia, UAM dropped Saturday’s doubleheader to Ouachita Baptist, 10-2 and 1-0, following an 8-game winning streak.

Ouachita Baptist led 6-0 through 5 innings. UAM’s Camden Tanner doubled to left center in the sixth, scoring Chaz Poppy in the play, and Kirk Woolf brought home Tanner on a single up the middle to make it a 6-2 ball game.

Ouachita Baptist (8-8, 5-4 Great American) found 4 more runs in the seventh.

In Game 2, the lone run of the game came in the third inning. Ouachita Baptist scored on a double down the right field line.

UAM (9-7, 7-2) had 4 hits, but was unable to cross the plate.

UAM will host Mississippi College for a single game Tuesday.

SOFTBALL OUACHITA 12, UAM 8

In Arkadelphia on Saturday, the Tigers (3-14, 1-5 Great American) avoided a series sweep with 10 runs in the fifth inning. Each team totaled 10 hits.

Bailey Camp went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Lexie Smith and Emmy Apodaca each had 2 hits for the Cotton Blossoms (12-10, 4-2).

UAM will return to action Friday at Harding University.