Box Score (HTML)

MONTICELLO – After trailing for the majority of the first half, East Central used a 21-3 run midway through the second half to take a 14-point lead and ultimately defeat the University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball team 84-81 on Thursday night inside Steelman Field House in the first Great American Conference game of the season.

The Weevils (1-1, 0-1 GAC) led for just over 17 minutes of the first half and the first five minutes of the second half before the Tigers (2-1, 1-0 GAC) made their big run to take a 65-51 lead with 10:26 remaining in regulation.

UAM responded with a 12-2 run to cut the deficit down to four points with 7:30 remaining on a pair of free throws from senior Sharif Hudson. The Tigers answered with another big run, this time outscoring the Weevils 12-2 over the next five minutes to hold a 13-point lead with 2:45 remaining.

The Weevils once again fought back to a four-point deficit following an 11-2 run, including two three-pointers from Hudson and one from junior Cameron Blue, to cut ECU's lead to 82-78 with 31 seconds remaining.

Following a pair of free-throws from ECU's Marquis Walters with 25 seconds remaining, UAM junior Richard Benedyth sunk a three-pointer as time expired to finalize the scoring.

UAM finished the game shooting 43 percent from the field (30-for-70). The Weevils went from 53 percent shooting in the first half to 34 percent in the final 20 minutes. UAM made 7-of-23 three-point attempts and 14-of-20 foul shots. ECU shot 51 percent from the field for the game (30-for-59), 40 percent on three-pointers (8-for-20) and 73 percent on foul shots (16-for-22).

Hudson led UAM with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Pensacola, Florida native also chipped in with seven assists in the loss. Benedyth followed with 16 points. Senior D'Audrio Patton scored 12 points. Senior Eli Alexander and Blue rounded out UAM's double-digit scorers with 10 points each.

ECU's Braxton Reeves and Stirling Thomas tied for the game-high in scoring with 22 points each.

The Weevils are back in action on Saturday at home against Southern Nazarene. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. inside Steelman Field House. SNU defeated Southern Arkansas 70-67 in overtime on Thursday in Magnolia.