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BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – No. 6 seed Henderson State controlled the final 12 minutes of the game to upset the No. 3 seed University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball team by a final score of 65-61 on Thursday in the opening round of the 2014 Great American Conference Championship Tournament.

Junior Kenric McCants nailed a three-pointer with 12:19 remaining in regulation to put the Weevils (19-10) up 51-42. The Reddies ( ) responded with a 11-2 run over the next four minutes to force a 53-all tie with 8:09 remaining on a tipin from Charles Wesley. The Reddies took their first lead of the second half with 2:13 remaining and did not allow another lead change in the game, despite a tie score forced with 1:04 remaining on a pair of made free throws from junior Sharif Hudson.
 
HSU outscored UAM 20-10 in the final 12 minutes of the game following UAM's nine-point lead on McCants' trey.

There were nine lead changes and eight tie scores in the first half, including a 34-all lock at the halftime break. The Reddies led by as much as five points in the opening 20 minutes on a jumper from Taylor Smith at the 15:39 mark to put his team up 12-7. UAM led by as much as three points on three different occasions in the first half.

UAM finished the game shooting 51 percent from the field (23-for-45), 44 percent on three pointers (7-for-16) and 53 percent on foul shots (8-for-15). HSU shot 43 percent from the field (26-for-61), 25 percent on three pointers (5-for-20) and 50 percent on foul shots (8-for-16).

The Weevils tied a season-high with 17 turnovers, which led to 11 HSU points.

Sharif Hudson led all scorers with 17 points and also turned in a game-high nine rebounds. Senior Brandon Sims and junior Tre Wells also reached double digits in scoring with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Senior Brandon Wilson, named to the All-GAC First Team on Wednesday, was limited to just eight nine minutes and four points due to foul trouble. Wilson fouled out with 3:47 remaining in regulation.

Deoirvay Johnson led the Reddies with 15 minutes in 31 minutes off the bench.