Box Score SEARCY, Ark. – The UAM Boll Weevils’ final push to the finish came up just short tonight at Harding, 66-74.
The Bison (9-8, 4-3 GAC) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead that the Weevils (14-5, 4-3 GAC) spent much of the half trying to stay in the game. UAM was shooting just 18-percent from the floor early in the half, getting down as many as 17, 25-8.
The Bison went on an 18-5 run for over five minutes of the half to expand their lead, but the Boll Weevils wouldn’t quit. They slowly chipped away at the deficit until they went into the locker room down six, 37-43, after Kori Forge hit a last-second three to end the half.
The second half saw the Bison lead climb as high as 14 and get as low as four, but every time the Weevils tried to make a run Harding would answer with one of their own to re-inflate their lead just out of UAM’s reach.
The Weevils made one last push, however. With four minutes to play, the Bison held a 66-60 advantage following a Ricardo Hall layup. Sergio Crowe hit two free throws to cut the Harding lead to four, 66-62, with 2:55 remaining. Ricardo Hall put back an L.A. Farmer jumper to pull within a bucket, 66-64, before Harding got another two points at the foul line to break the Weevil’s run. Harding outscored UAM 8-2 in the final 1:49 to seal the win.
UAM shot 24-of-61 from the floor, for 39-percent, including 5-of-16 from three-point range,31-percent. They went 13-of-17 from the charity stripe on the night for 76-percent. Harding went 30-of-63 from the field, 6-of-21 from three, and 8-of-10 from the foul line.
The Weevils were led in scoring by Sergio Crowe with 19 points in 37 minutes. Kori Forge and Ricardo Hall joined him in double figures with 18 and 12 points, respectively. A.J. Calhoun pulled in a team-high eight rebounds in the contest. Harding was led by Bradley Spencer’s 19 points in 34 minutes.
UAM will return to Steelman Field House this Saturday afternoon as they host the Tigers of Ouachita Baptist University.
Tipoff is scheduled after the conclusion of the women’s game, approximately 4:00 pm.
