BOX SCORE

ALVA, Okla. – After a two-point differential at the halftime break, Northwestern Oklahoma State outscored the University of Arkansas at Monticello men’s basketball team 43-31 in the second half to record a 68-54 win over the Boll Weevils on Saturday in the first-ever meeting between the two squads.

UAM (3-3, 0-2 Great American Conference) started the second half on a 4-0 scoring run, capped off by a three-pointer from senior Kori Forge at the 18:36 mark to give UAM its first lead of the contest. Forge later hit a three-pointer to give UAM another two-point lead of 37-35 with just under 13 minutes remaining in regulation.

Forge capped off a rally of nine consecutive points for UAM at the 10:29 mark with another trey to give UAM its last lead of the game at 39-37.

NWOSU (3-4, 2-0 GAC) responded with a 20-2 scoring run to take a 17-point lead of 58-41 with just under five minutes remaining. The Rangers maintained that double-digit lead and never led by less than 12 points throughout the remainder of the contest.

As a team, UAM shot 39 percent from the field (21-of-54), 29 percent on three-pointers (5-of-17) and 47 percent on foul shots (7-of-15). NWOSU shot above 50 percent in each half and finished the game shooting 59 percent overall (27-of-46), 27 percent on three-pointers (3-of-11) and 58 percent at the foul line (11-of-19).

UAM posted three scorers in double-digits, led by Forge with 17. Senior A.J. Calhoun trailed closely with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Dayton Mickens added 12 points and four rebounds.

NWOSU’s Jonathan Freemeyer led all scorers with 22 points.

The Boll Weevils return to action on Thursday, December 6 at home against Henderson State. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Steelman Fieldhouse.