Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Boll Weevils handed Arkansas Tech only their third conference loss in three seasons tonight, knocking off the No. 22 Wonder Boys 78-69 at Tucker Coliseum.

The Weevils took control of the first half with just over 13 minutes to play. With the Wonder Boys up 9-5, L.A. Farmer hit the front end of a pair of foul shots and sparked a 17-0 run over the next four minutes. UAM retook the lead, 10-9, thanks to a three from Kori Forge with 12:50 left in the half.

A.J. Calhoun put an exclamation point on the rally with an alley-oop dunk from Sergio Crowe to put the Weevils up 22-9 with 9:55 on the clock. If not for an 8-0 run by Tech to close the half the deficit would have climbed even higher, but with the final push the Wonder Boys closed the gap to 35-26 at the break.

UAM successfully held off the Wonder Boys’ second half-opening surge, taking a 43-32 into the first media break. The lead continued to hold, virtually, steady as the half unfolded until the nine minute mark. Arkansas Tech managed to cut the lead down to three, 58-55, with 5:53 remaining. The Weevils would not be denied, however, closing the final minutes outscoring the Wonder Boys 20-14.

L.A. Farmer led the Weevils, matching his season and career high, 28 points and nine rebounds in 39 minutes. He had 28 earlier in the year against Philander Smith. Sergio Crowe, Kori Forge, and Ricardo Hall also posted double figures with 17, 14, and 11 points, respectively. Arkansas Tech was led by Will Paul’s double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Weevil fans will remember that the first conference loss for the Wonder Boys in the, now, three-season streak came at the hands of another Weevils’ team. The 2009-10 squad knocked off the then top-ranked Wonder Boys 58-51. The other loss came to the OBU Tigers last season.

UAM will look to start conference play 2-0 Saturday afternoon as they host the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Savage Storm in a 4:00 match-up.