After winning three consecutive non-conference contests, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils have lost two consecutive Great American Conference contests to begin conference play.
Opening conference play on the road, travelling to Russellville to face the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys,
Arkansas Tech started the contest with a 5-0 run before three-pointers by Josh Denton and Alex Brogdon gave the Weevils a 6-5 lead.
UAM would hold the lead until Arkasnas Tech was able to regain the advantage by one point, 15-14, with 11:16 remaining in the half.
UAM would tie the contest at 27 after a three-pointer by Mario Fantina with 2:28 remaining in the half.
Arkansas Tech would regain the advantage and would increase their lead to five points, twice before the end of the half to take a 34-29 advantage into the locker room at the half.
Fantina would connect on a three-pointer with 18:16 remaining in the contest to cut the Wonder Boy lead to three points, 38-35. It was the final moment of the game that the Weevils would have that less of a point margain.
Arkansas Tech began to add to their lead, increasing the lead to double-digits for the majority of the second half with their largest lead being 21 points with 7:36 remaining in the half.
The Weevils were able to cut away at the lead and would see the lead go to single digits, an eight point lead, on a layup by Cole Anderson with eight seconds remaining in the contest to set up the final score of 75-67.
Issac Jackson would lead the way for the Weevils with 21 points followed by 11 point performances by Timur Krupalija and Edwin Lewis.
Mario Fantina added nine points, going 3 of 9 from the three-point arc, Josh Denton and Cole Anderson each scored six points, Alex Brogdon rounded out the Weevil scoring with three points.
The Weevils would return home for their first Great American Conference home contest at Steelman Fieldhouse on Saturday, December 3, hosting the Henderson State Reddies.
The Reddies entered the contest with a 1-0 record in conference play after defeating Southern Arkansas University 75-67 on Thursday, December 1, and had an overall record of 4-3.
Henderson scored the first basket of the contest on their first possession for a 2-0 lead with Edwin Lewis connecting on the first three-pointer of the contest to give the Weevils the 3-2 lead.
With 13:02 remaining in the half, a three-pointer by Henderson’s Josh Mason would tie the contest at 11.
UAM would retake the lead off a pair of free throws by Issac Jackson to give the Weevils a 13-11 lead with 10:03 remaining in the half.
The Weevils would maintain the lead for the remainder of the half with the largest lead being seven points on two separate occasions, both times coming off three point shots by Mario Fantina.
Henderson would cut the lead to one point with 1:29 remaining in the half, 27-26, but UAM would get the final points of the half on a dunk by Issac Jackson to give the Weevils a three point, 29-26 lead at the break.
Returning from the halftime break, Henderson and UAM would exchange the lead for the first few minutes of the second half with the game being tied at 32 with 17:15 remaining in the contest.
Henderson would take the lead with 16:52 remaining in the contest and would hold on the lead until Edwin Lewis connected on a three-pointer with 3:03 showing on the clock.
Henderson would retake the lead on a pair of free throws, and would hold on to the lead for the remainder of the contest taking the three point, 64-61 victory.
Issac Jackson led the way for the Weevils with 23 points to lead all scorers. Edwin Lewis added 14 and Timu Krupalija scored 10.
Mario Fantina added eight points with Josh Denton and Alex Brogdon rounding out the scoring with three points each.
With the loss, the Weevils fall to 3-4. 0-2 in the GAC.
Both the Weevils and Blossoms will return to action on Saturday, December 10, travelling to Searcy to face Harding.
The Blossoms will tip at 5:30 pm with the Weevils to begin after the Blossoms.
