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ALVA, Okla. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball team held off a late Northwestern Oklahoma State run to record a 55-51 road victory over the Rangers on Thursday night inside Percefull Fieldhouse to start a four-game road swing in the state of Oklahoma.
Leading by 10 points with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation, the Weevils allowed the Rangers to trim the lead to just two points with 1:51 remaining on an old-fashioned three-point play from T'Aries Taylor. UAM had maintained at least an eight-point lead in the six minutes prior that play from Taylor that capped an 11-2 scoring run for the Rangers.
UAM (14-6, 7-5 Great American Conference) held NWOSU (6-11, 3-8 GAC) scoreless in the final 1:51 to seal its third road win of the year.
In the first half, UAM used a 9-2 run and three-pointers from junior Sharif Hudson and sophomore Ryan Lensing to take an 18-10 lead at the 7:25 mark. However, Northwestern Oklahoma State immediately answered with a 12-1 run over the next three minutes to take a 22-19 lead the 3:56 mark on a made jumper from Brandon Wooley.
Junior Tre Wells completed an old-fashioned three-point play at the 2:51 mark of the first half to force the game's third tie score at 24-all. NWOSU added a free throw to finalize the first half scoring, sending both teams into the locker room at the break with the Rangers on top 25-24.
UAM started the second half making 5-of-6 field goal attempts and eventually led by as many as nine points on a three-pointer from Hudson at the 13:26 mark to give his team a 45-36 advantage. Hudson was called on again seven minutes later to give UAM its first double-digit lead of the game with a made jumper at the 9:39 mark to put the Weevils on top 49-38.
UAM finished the game shooting 46 percent from the field (18-for-39), including a 55 percent burst in the second half. The Weevils hit six three-pointers for a 40 percent night from beyond the arc and made 62 percent of their free throws (13-for-21). NWOSU shot 40 percent from the field (21-for-53), 20 percent on three-pointers (3-for-15) and 50 percent on foul shots (6-for-12).
UAM's Sharif Hudson led all scorers and was the only Weevil to reach double-digits with a final total of 17 points, 14 of which coming in the second half.
Bruce Wright led the Rangers with 16 points.
The Weevils are back in action this Saturday on the road against Southwestern Oklahoma State. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. inside the newly-opened Pioneer Cellular Event Center in Weatherford, Okla.
