Weather sponsored by:
The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils ended 2025 with their first Great American Conference win, a 61-54 win over Arkansas Tech, and would open the 2026 portion of the basketball schedule with a road game at Arkadelphia to face the Henderson State Reddies.
Henderson would enter the contest with a 6-5 overall record and a 3-2 mark in GAC play with the Weevils having a 5-6 overall record and a 1-3 record in the GAC.
The Weevils would get the first points against Henderson after Ashton Price connected on a three pointer to begin the contest.
Henderson would score the next 10 points before Josh Smith ended the Weevil scoring drought with a jumper to cut the Reddie lead to 10-5.
Henderson would continue to lead the Weevils before two three pointers by Jakob Zenon cut the lead to one point, 17-16.
A layup by Zenon would give the Weevils a 21-20 lead, and after Henderson tied the contest at 21, the Weevils would go on to take an eight point advantage, 37-29, at the end of the first half.
Returning from the break, Henderson would score the first four points of the second half to cut the Weevil lead to 37-33.
Henderson would regain the lead with 17:40 remaining in the contest, 39-38, and from there the two teams would remain close, exchanging the lead several times throughout the second quarter.
The point margin between the teo teams would never exceed more than four points for the remainder of the contest.
The Weevils would take the lead with 1:25 remaining in the contest after Price connected on an old-fashioned three-point play after connecting on a layup and drawing the foul and after connecting on the foul shot the Weevils led 64-63.
Henderson would score the last three points of the contest on a free throw followed by a layup with 18 seconds remaining to secure the two-point victory, 66-64.
Jakob Zenon would lead the Weevils in scoring with 20 points followed by Ashton Price with 19, Giancarlo Valdez with 12, and Issac Jackson with 11.
Josh Smith rounded out the scoring with two points.
The Weevils will continue their road trip on Thursday in Ada, Oklahoma, facing East Central with a 7:30 pm scheduled tip followed by a trip to Durant, Oklahoma to face Southeastern Oklahoma University on Saturday, January 10 with a 3 pm scheduled tip off.
All UAM conference games can be heard on KHBM radio.
