ADA, Okla. – The University of Arkansas of Monticello men's basketball team fell in a nail-biter triple-overtime game at East Central University on Saturday, 129-122. The Weevils and Tigers played in an all-time Great American Conference classic combining for 251 points.
 
UAM made some mistakes early in the game and found itself down to start the first half. ECU took a 28-4 lead with 10:50 remaining. In the final 10 minutes of the period, the Weevils began a comeback. Justin Slocum and KJ Lesure got the run started with a couple of baskets. UAM got the lead back to 10 points with 2:44 remaining when Lesure hit a jumper. The Tigers got the lead back to 12 to conclude the half taking a 43-31 advantage into halftime.
 
About six minutes into the second period, UAM took its first lead of the contest when Lesure drained a three to make it 51-50. A little later, UAM and ECU would continue to battle, but the Weevils made it a four-point advantage after a Wanya King three, 65-51.
 
Both teams would trade leads for the remainder of the half. With 1:12 remaining in regulation, Slocum hit a big basket in the paint to go up 86-83. The Tigers responded with 28 seconds remaining with a three, sending the game into overtime.
 
In the first overtime period, the Weevils got to the line a handful of times taking an early lead. The Tigers then answered, taking a three-point lead with 50 seconds remaining. UAM would miss a jumper but got the ball back with eight seconds left. Lesure brought the ball up the floor, dished it to Marcus Gilbert who hit a buzzer-beater from downtown to send the game into double-overtime, 98-98.
 
The following period, it was the Weevils on the other side of a late comeback. King hit a basket to put UAM up two with a little over a minute remaining. The Tigers tied the game up again, but Kwame McBean got free for a basket a little later to go ahead, 107-105. With three seconds left in the period, ECU was fouled getting to the line. Camron Talley would hit both free throws sending the game into its third overtime period.
 
Unfortunately, the final overtime period was a little different than the others. ECU went on a 14-2 run to start the period taking a 124-109 advantage. The Weevils did cut it back to single digits with 13 seconds remaining after King hit a three, but UAM fell at ECU, 129-122.
 
King led all scorers with 37 points going 9-of-16 from downtown.
 
Lesure finished with a double-double scoring 21 points and recording 10 rebounds. He also had six assists.
 
Slocum also registered 20 points while pulling down three rebounds.
 
The contest finished with 16 lead changes and 12 ties.
 
With the loss, the Weevils have now lost two-in-a-row for the first time this season falling to 13-4 overall and 5-3 in conference play. ECU improves to 12-2 overall and 6-2 in league games.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will conclude its three-game road trip with a matchup at Southern Arkansas University on Thursday. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game.