The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils 2023-24 Basketball Season has officially ended after an overtime loss on Friday, March 8, in Shawnee, Oklahoma against the fourth seed, Southern Nazarene University.
The Weevils entered the Great American Conference Championship Tournament as the fifth seed with an overall record of 13-14 and a GAC record of 11-11.
Southern Nazarene would begin the contest going on a 6-0 run with the run ending on a pair of free throws by Zane Nelson.
Southern Nazarene would increase their lead to 12 points with 8:26 remaining in the half.
Josh Denton would knock the SNU lead back to single digits, 12-9, on a three pointer with 8:03 on the clock.
SNU would score 31 points in the half with UAM tying the contest on a pair of free throws by Ty’Reonn King with 31 seconds remaining to send the game to the break even at 31.
Both teams would exchange baskets and the lead for the first six minutes of the second half with SNU increasing their lead to four points on a pair of free throws to give the Savage Storm a 45-41 lead with 12:52 remaining in the half.
Nelson would even the contest at 47 on a pair of free throws with 10:15 remaining in the half with SNU hitting a three to retake the lead but Nelson would answer the Storm three with a three to tie the game at 50.
SNU would go back up by four points, 62-58, with 1:04 remaining in the contest but Issac Jackson would hit a three with 27 seconds remaining to cut the SNU lead to 62-61.
SNU connected on two free throws to increase the lead back to three points with 13 seconds remaining but Nelson would hit a three with three seconds on the clock to tie the contest at 64 to send the contest into overtime.
In the overtime period, the teams would exchange the lead for most of the period with SNU the contest being tied at 70 on a pair of free throws by Nelson with 17 seconds remaining.
SNU would go to the free throw line with three seconds remaining, connecting on both shots to give Southern Nazarene the two point, overtime, victory 72-20.
UAM would see three players reach double-digits in the contest with Zane Nelson leading the way with 24 points followed by Issac Jackson with 22, and Josh Denton finishing the contest with 12.
Timur Krupalija finished with six points with Wesley Booker, Ty’Reonn King, and Alex Brogdon each scoring two points.
Wesley Booker would lead the Weevils with 16 rebounds in the contest.
With the loss, the Weevils finish the season with an overall 13-15 record.
Issac Jackson led the Weevils on the season with 571 points.
Zane Nelson would score 541 points and would lead the Weevils with 51 steals, 51 three pointers, and 144free throws made.
Josh Denton would finish the season with 193 points, Timur Krupalija scored 120 points and led the team with 14 blocks, and Wesley Booker scoring 111 points leading the Weevils with 214 rebounds.
Cole Anderson finishes his senior season with 78 points, Ty’Reonn King with 53, Alex Brogdon with 46, AK Hazley with 31, Zae Wiggins with 23, Donovan Copper finishing his senior season with 16 points, and Mario Fantina with 14 points.
Chad Tapp completed his third season as the Weevils head coach with a 34-50 overall record.
Tapp achieved his 200th career victory this season.
The Weevils had six players receive GAC All-Conference honors with Issac Jackson receiving All-GAC First Team honors and Zane Nelson being named the GAC New Comer of the Year and earning All-GAC Second Team honors.
Donovan Cooper, Wesley Booker, Timur Krupalija, and Josh Denton would all receive Great American Conference Distinguished Scholar Athlete awards.
