Box Score
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The UAM Boll Weevils had plenty of chances, but cold shooting doomed them as they fell 76-73 to the Southern Arkansas Muleriders.
Cold shooting dogged the Weevils early on, as UAM (14-3, 4-2 GAC) put up a 33-percent shooting mark in the half. As a result, the Muleriders were able to carry a lead for the majority of the half. The Muleriders (11-7, 4-2 GAC) were able to build up as high as a 12-point lead.
The Weevils were able to string together a few buckets in the last minute of the half to shrink the deficit down to a manageable six points but Teviin Morris hit a three as time expired to push the SAU lead back to nine, 40-31.
The second half picked up largely where the first one left off. The Weevils shooting continued to struggle, sinking below 30-percent multiple times. The Mulerider lead climbed as high as 16, 53-37, before the first media timeout of the half.
UAM continued to battle, despite their cold shooting, and managed to pull within three, 58-55, by the next media timeout with 9:30 remaining in the game. Out of the break L.A. Farmer hit a pair of free throws to bring the deficit down to a single point.
The Muleriders would not be denied, however, and rattled off six-straight points to push their advantage out to seven, 64-57. Every time the Weevils attempted to complete the comeback SAU would surge back just enough to keep UAM at bay.
UAM had time for one final push as Kori Forge hit a put-back with 1:00 minute remaining to cut the deficit back down to a single possession, 76-73. The Muleriders inbounded the ball and ran the clock down to 23 seconds and missed the layup down low.
Dwayne Bingham pulled in the rebound and shuffled the ball down the court as the seconds continued to tick away. The Weevils got off three separate shots that could have tied the game and sent it into overtime, but two rimmed out and the final was short as the Muleriders stormed the court with the 76-73 victory.
UAM shot 32-percent from the floor, going 19-of-59, including 9-of-28 from three (32-percent). They shot 26-of-37 from the charity stripe for 70-percent. The silver lining in the clouds tonight came on the offensive boards, as the Weevils pulled in 26 second chances. They out-rebounded Southern 41-31 on the night.
Ricardo Hall and Kori Forge paced the Weevils with 17 points each. They were joined in double figures by Sergio Crowe and L.A. Farmer with 16 and 15 points, respectively. A.J. Calhoun grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds for the Weevils. Casey Cheshier led the Muleriders with a game-high 18 points.
The Weevils will try to recover from this one on the road Thursday night as they travel to Harding to take on the Bison in a 7:30 matchup at Rhodes Field House.
