MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello Men’s Basketball team hosted Arkansas Tech University on Thursday evening in their ninth Great American Conference match-up of the 2022-23 season. The Weevils closed out the night in a last second, heartbreak fashion to fall to the Wonder Boys, 49-48.
Isaac Jackson and Josh Denton led the way for Arkansas-Monticello (5-10, 1-8 GAC) in Thursday night’s low-scoring game, posting 13 points each in their performance. Jackson came out of the night 5-14 on field goals, going 2-5 on shots from beyond-the-arc and 1-1 on free throws. He also contributed four rebounds and three assists on the night. Denton was 5-11 on field goals for the night, hitting 3-8 three-pointers on top of his four defensive rebounds and two blocks contributed on the night.
Arkansas Tech (9-6, 7-2 GAC) was led by Andre Leavell with 19 points.
Tip off of the first half began with a missed layup by the Wonder Boys. The first points of the evening would not be scored until a minute thirty into the first half, when Tech would score off a layup. The score would remain 2-0 for almost two minutes, until Edwin Louis hit a three to put the Weevils on the board! Tech would react with two made layups. Mario Fantina would re-tie the game at 6-6 after hitting a three of his own. The Weevils would then go on 10-4 run to make the score 16-10 at the 10 minute mark. The rest of the half would be dominated by the Weevils, outscoring the Wonder Boys 11-5. Fantina was 2-4 from three-point territory on the half and Isaac Jackson was 2-3. Jackson led the Weevils in the first half with 11 total points. Arkansas-Monticello dominated the paint, racking up a total 20 rebounds in the opening twenty minutes. The teams would head to the locker room with Weevils up 27-15 at the half.
Tech was the first to score in the second half; hitting a free throw thanks to an Arkansas-Monticello foul. The Wonder Boys would go on to score two layups and a three to cut the Weevil lead down to just 4. Josh Denton would respond with three, but was matched by a Wonder Boy three to bring the score to 30-26 UAM just over five minutes into the second twenty minutes. The Weevils kept the Wonder Boys at bay until the final five seconds of the game when a foul was called on Ray Price. Two made free throws later and the Weevils found themselves down 49-48 with seconds on the clock. The Weevils would inbound the ball and pass to set Denton up for a true last second three, unfortunately not falling for a basket. The match would come to a close with Arkansas tech on top, 49-48.
Arkansas-Monticello committed 13 turnovers in the entirety of the match.
UP NEXT
The Weevils return to the court on Saturday, January 21 when they travel to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to take on in-state, Great American Conference member Henderson State University. The match will tip off at 3:00 p.m.
All live streams and live stats will be available as clickable links on the UAM Men’s basketball schedule.
UAM would like to give a thank you to today’s game day sponsors, SEARK Eye Care. Thank you for your continued support of UAM Athletics!
How to follow the Weevils: For more information on Arkansas-Monticello Men’s Basketball, visit www.uamsports.com and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Check out the home schedule below for the next opportunity to catch the Weevils at Steelman Field House! STUDENTS! Be sure to come out to the remaining home games of the 2022-23 basketball season and enter for your chance to win $10,000 in the Union Bank Half-Court Challenge. The winner will be selected for a chance to shoot a $10K half-court shot at the final home game of the season. (February 23)
Because the $300 three-pointer was missed at tonight’s game, a student will have the opportunity at Monday night’s UAM-SAU match-up to shoot a three-pointer for $400 at half-time of the Weevils Game. Be sure to show your support and enter for your chance to win.
For official rules and regulations, please click here: https://www.uamsports.com/news/2022/11/21/mens-basketball-the-10-000-union-bank-half-court-challenge-returns-for-the-2022-23-basketball-season.aspx
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