The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils extended their win streak to three contests against Southern Arkansas University at Steelman Fieldhouse on Thursday, January 25.
The Weevils had won contests against Oklahoma Baptist University and Southern Nazarene before hosting Southern Arkansas at Steelman Field house on Thursday.
Southern Arkansas would get on the board to start the contest with Zane Nelson getting UAM on the board on a pair of free throws.
After a jumper by Issac Jackson tied the contest at four at the 17:09 mark, SAU would take the lead until Zane Nelson tied the contest at 17 on a three pointer with 9:43 remaining in the half.
SAU would break the tie with Zane Nelson giving the Weevils their first lead of the contest with around 8:00 left in the half on a jumper for a 21-20 lead.
SAU would take the lead with 5:19 remaining in the half and extend the lead to eight points, 34-26, with 2:53 remaining.
UAM would come back to knock the lead down to two points after three consecutive jumpers by Jackson made the halftime score 34-32.
Josh Denton would tie the games for the Weevils at the 18:02 mark of the second half followed by a pair of free throws by Wesley Booker that gave the Weevils a 37-35 lead.
The teams would exchange the lead for the next several possessions with Issac Jackson connecting on a three to give the Weevils a 46-44 lead with 10:30 remaining in the contest.
SAU would come back to tie the contest at 46 with Denton breaking the tie with a three and a layup by Nelson would extend the lead to five points with 8:43 on the clock.
UAM would continue to hold the lead until SAU’s Carel Ray Jr. tied the contest at 55 with 4:06 on the clock.
UAM would take the lead for the final time in the contest on a pair of free throws by Zane Nelson with 1:32 left in the contest, giving UAM a one point lead, 60-59.
UAM would extend their lead to six points with the final points coming on free throws by Jackson to give the Weevils a six point, 67-61, victory.
With the win, the Weevil improved their overall record to 8-8 and their Great American Conference record to 6-5.
Leading the way for the Weevils was Zane Nelson with 28 points followed by Issac Jackson with 26 points.
Wesley Booker added six points, Josh Denton with five points, and Timur Krupalija rounding out the scoring with three points.
The Weevils would travel to Russellville on Saturday, January 27, to face the Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech.
Arkansas Tech defeated the Weevils in their first Great American Conference contest of the season on November 30, 2023, by six points, 87-81.
In their second contest of the season, Arkansas Tech would get on the board to start the contest on a three pointer, but on the opposite end of the court, Zane Nelson would be fouled on a three point attempt, going to the line to connect on all three free throws.
With 11:53 remaining in the half, the Wonder Boys would take the lead on a three by Taelon Peter for a 9-7 lead.
With 7:54 on the clock, Arkansas Tech extended the lead to double digits with a 10 point lead, 20-10.
Arkansas Tech would continue to lead the Weevils for the remainder of the half with their biggest lead being the final score of the half, 33-14, a 19 point lead.
After the half, Arkansas Tech would continue to hold their lead over the Weevils, increasing the lead to 21 points with 14:58 remaining in the game and would hold their largest lead of the contest with 6:57 remaining, extending their lead to 27 points, 56-29.
Arkansas Tech would go on to take the contest by a 17 point margin, 67-50.
Leading the way for the Weevils was Zane Nelson with 16 points followed by Issac Jackson with 11.
Donovan Cooper scored seven points, Cole Anderson with six, Wesley Booker with five, Alex Bregdon with three, and Josh Denton with two points.
Wesley Booker led the Weevils in rebounds with 10.
For the Weevils, Issac Jackson and Zane Nelson are in a tight race to become the season's leading scorer with Jackson leading Nelson by six points 342 to 336.
With the loss, UAM pulled even in conference play at 6-6.
The Weevils continue their stretch of contests on the road this week, traveling to Oklahoma on Thursday to face Southwestern Oklahoma State and will remain in Oklahoma on Saturday to face Northwestern Oklahoma State.
