MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball team will host Henderson State University on Saturday from the Steelman Field House in Monticello, Arkansas for a Great American Conference contest at 4 p.m.
 
LIVE COVERAGE LINKS
UAM GAME NOTES – HSU | HSU GAME NOTES | LINK TO PREVIEW VIDEO | JINGLE JAM INFO
UAM VS. HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY – 12/14 – 4 P.M. – LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO
 
GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Henderson State University
Date: December 14, 2019
Location: Monticello, Arkansas – Steelman Field House
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: February 9, 2019 in Monticello (W, 68-64)
 
UAM PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 7-2
2019-20 GAC Record: 2-1
Head Coach: Kyle Tolin, Sixth Season (80-63)
 
SCOUTING THE WEEVILS
Last time out, UAM fell on the road at Arkansas Tech University, 75-70, to snap a seven-game winning streak. As for HSU, the Reddies lost in a similar manner on the road at Harding University, 89-77.
 
Prior to Tech, UAM's win streak was seven games much in part to their outstanding offensive play. Despite the loss, the Weevils are still 16th in NCAA Division II in assists (165) and in field goal percentage (51.3). They are also 19th in Division II in scoring margin (+16.8) and 21st in offensive rebounds per game (13.9).
 
Although UAM is not known for its defense, they do an excellent job as a team forcing turnovers ranking 17th in steals per game (10.0) and 20th in assist to turnover ratio (1.49).
 
Overall, the Weevils are scoring 89.9 points per game and allowing just 73.1 points per contest. UAM has shot its impressive 51.3 field goal percentage, but also has been impressive from downtown at 38.8 percent. The Weevils are also +7.3 in rebounding margin and are turning the ball over just 12.3 times per game. UAM also shoots 69.3 percent from the free-throw line.
 
UAM has six players that average at least 11.0 points per game in Marcus Gilbert (15.2), KJ Lesure (14.8), Justin Slocum (13.7), Austin Hardy (12.0), Wanya King (11.2) and Denzel McDuffey (11.0).
 
Gilbert is shooting 52.0 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from downtown while also grabbing 5.4 rebounds per game and averaging 4.3 assists per game.
 
Lesure has also been one of the team's top players shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and 37.0 percent from downtown while ranking sixth in the country in total assists (66) and seventh in assists per game (7.3).
 
McDuffey and Slocum have been outstanding at crashing the boards this season with McDuffey averaging 6.4 rebounds per game and Slocum tallying 6.3. The pair have also been impressive shot-blockers with at 12 and 10, respectively.
 
Hardy has been coming off the bench and ranks fourth on the team in scoring mostly due to his success from downtown shooting 42.6 percent from long range.
 
Also coming off the bench very well has been Kwame McBean. He's averaging 7.0 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game and is shooting 60.5 percent from the floor.
 
HENDERSON STATE PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 6-2
2019-20 GAC Record: 2-1
Head Coach: Jimmy Elgas, Fifth Season (63-59)
 
SCOUTING THE REDDIES
The Reddies come into this game as one of the better defensive teams in the region ranking eighth in field goal percentage defense (38.0%), 10^th in turnovers forced per game (20.0) 13^th in steals per game (10.5) and 15^th in turnover margin (+5.8).
 
HSU is scoring 84.4 points per game while allowing just 68.0 per contest while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 46.9 percent from downtown. The Reddies also grab 37.4 rebounds per contest while opponents snag 35.0 rebounds per contest.
 
The Reddies are led in scoring by Chris Parker who averages 17.5 points per contest shooting 47.4 percent from the floor and 46.9 percent from downtown.
 
Along with Parker is Rel Johnson who puts up 11.9 points per contest shooting 39.2 percent from the floor and 26.3 percent from three-point range.
 
Raekwon Rogers rounds out the top scorers for HSU averaging 11.1 points per game, while also leading the team in the rebounding category at 8.3 boards per contest.
 
Defensively, HSU has totaled 84 steals and 33 blocks. Quawn Marshall has been the team's biggest thief with 16 steals, while Rogers leads the roster in blocks at eight.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will take to the skies when it travels to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Division II Power Invitational. It's first game of the tournament will be against University of Alaska-Anchorage at 8:15 p.m. (CT) on December 19th.