Box Score
MONTICELLO, Ark. – The UAM men’s basketball team won its home opener tonight, 77-55, over the Philander Smith Panthers.
The Weevils (3-1) won by 20, but anyone inside Steelman Field House tonight would tell you things were much closer. With 5:49 left to play the Panthers had pulled back to within five at 54-49. UAM closed out the game on a 21-6 run that pushed the lead to its highest point on the night in the 77-55 final.
UAM took a few minutes to get started early on, as turnovers and missed shots kept Philander Smith (1-4) within striking distance. A three from Kori Forge with 12:26 pushed the Weevils’ lead out to 18-5 and it remained in double digits for the remainder of the half, surging as high as 19, going into the halftime break up 39-24.
The Weevils survived on their first half lead throughout the second half as they fought off wave after wave by the Panthers, furiously trying to get back in the game. They cut the lead to single digits at various points, but each time the Weevils answered to push the lead back into safer territory.
The Panthers had no answer for the Weevils down low, as UAM outscored them 42-16 “in the paint.” Although UAM committed twice as many turnovers (26) as PSC (13), the Panthers only managed to turn the miscues into 18 points while UAM got 15 off their opportunities.
The Weevils had five players in double figures by the end of the game, led by L.A. Farmer’s 22. A.J. Calhoun posted a double-double with his game-high 14 rebounds and 12 points. Sergio Crowe and Ricardo Hall each finished with 13 points and Kori Forge added 11. Philander was led by Ken Brown with 16 points and five rebounds.
The Weevils owned the boards, out-rebounding PSC 56-24 on the night, including 38 defensive rebounds. Calhoun had ten rebounds on the defensive end alone. UAM finished the night shooting 48-percent from the floor (26-of-54) and 25-percent from three (3-12), they were 20-of-28 from the line (71-percent).
UAM will return to action this Tuesday as they host former Gulf South Conference rival Delta State at 7:30 p.m. The Statesmen are playing Ouachita Baptist tonight and have Henderson State on Monday night before rolling into Monticello while the Weevils will have some time to rest before Tuesday.
