Online: uamsports.com
JOPLIN, Mo. – For the first time in the 2021 season, the University of Arkansas at Monticello men’s basketball team lands in the top five in the Division II Sports Information Directors of America Central Region Media Poll. The newest rankings released on Monday have the Weevils slotted in the No. 5 spot with six total points.
The Weevils (7-2, 6-2 GAC) are currently in first place in the Great American Conference’s Eastern Division standings.
UAM averages more than 75 points per game and owns the league’s top scoring margin at +10.4 thanks to the defense ranking second in scoring at 65.1 points per game (17th nationally). The Weevils are the best team in the GAC in creating takeaways as UAM leads the conference in turnovers forced per game with 17.1 (14th nationally) and total steals with 65, averaging 7.2 per contest.
Senior guard Miles Daniels’ 31 made three-point field goals this season lead the GAC and rank 34th in Division II. His shooting percentage of 47% from downtown paces the league and rates 22nd in the country.
Junior guard DaJuan Jones sits at sixth nationally in assists per game with 6.3 while passing out the second-most total assists in the league with 57 (20th nationally).
Daniels leads the team in scoring with 16.6 points per game. Denzel McDuffey (13.8), Jones (12.9) and Lemmie Howard (10.4) follow each averaging more than 10.0 points per game.
UAM hits the floor on Thursday against Harding inside Steelman Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Weevils are 1-0 against Harding this season, picking up the road victory 77-66 on January 21. UAM is unbeaten at home this season at 4-0.
The poll’s format changed from ten to six in 2020-21 to reflect the reduction in the amount of teams that will qualify for the NCAA postseason tournament. The D2SIDA Central Region Media Poll is voted on by six sports information directors from six Central Region schools.
— #WeevilNation —
