MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball team will head to Magnolia, Arkansas for a Great American Conference matchup at Southern Arkansas University on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game.
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UAM GAME NOTES
UAM AT
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY – 1/16 – 7:30 P.M. –
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GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Southern Arkansas University
Date: January 16, 2020
Location: Magnolia, Arkansas – W.T. Watson Center
In-Game Updates: Twitter (@UAMsports)
Last Played: February 14, 2019 in Magnolia (L, 55-48)
UAM PRIMER
2019-20 Record: 13-4
2019-20 GAC Record: 5-3
Head Coach: Kyle Tolin, Sixth Season (86-75)
SCOUTING THE WEEVILS
UAM is coming into this one having lost two consecutive games for the first time this season. Last time out, UAM played a triple-overtime game at East Central University falling, 129-122. As for SAU, they come into this contest having lost four straight, most recently falling at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 77-55.
Despite the pair of losses on the trip, UAM still remains one of the top teams in NCAA Division II in several categories. The Weevils are fifth in the country in crashing the boards totaling 701 rebounds. They are also 12th in scoring offense (90.7 ppg), 13th in total assists (282), 22nd in both rebound margin (+7.2) and total three-pointers made (168), and 25th in scoring margin (+12.7).
As a team, UAM is shooting 49.2 percent from the floor, while opponents are shooting 44.5 percent from the field. UAM has also been shooting pretty solid from downtown at 39.2 percent. At the line, the Weevils are making 14.5 free-throws per game shooting 75.9 percent.
In the rebounding category, UAM is averaging 41.2 rebounds per contest while opponents are grabbing 34.0.
On defense, the Weevils force 13.2 turnovers per game and have a turnover margin of +2.6. UAM snags 7.9 steals per contest and swats 3.5 shots per contest. The Weevils are also exceptional at creating opportunities off the turnovers tallying 22.5 points off turnovers per game.
KJ Lesure is the team's leading scorer and pass distributor averaging 18.4 points per game and 6.7 assists per game. Lesure's play this year has earned him some impressive recognition snagging GAC Player of the Week three times, and most recently has been named to Bevo Francis Top 100 players to watch list. He is fifth in the NCAA in minutes played (620.55), seventh in points per game and eighth in free-throw percentage (85.6).
Along with Lesure,
Justin Slocum also averages over 15.0 points per game tallying 15.4 points per contest. He's also gotten it done on the glass ranking second on the roster in rebounds per contest recording 6.5.
UAM also has four other players averaging at least 10.0 points per game in
Marcus Gilbert (13.5),
Austin Hardy (12.5),
Denzel McDuffey (11.1) and
Wanya King (10.9).
McDuffey has been one of the best defensive players the team has ranking first in blocks (22) and second to Lesure in steals (32). He also leads the roster in rebounds per game at 8.1.
Hardy has continued his dominance from beyond the arc leading the roster in three-point field goal percentage at 42.7.
King had an outstanding game last week at East Central tallying a career-best 37 points while drilling nine three-pointers to bump his scoring average to over 10.0 points per game. He also has been solid beyond the arc throughout the season shooting 38.4 percent from downtown.
Gilbert has been impressive in all facets of the game leading the team in minutes played (37.1) He is actually ranked second in the country in total minutes played at 626.59 and is averaging 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per contest.
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS PRIMER
2019-20 Record:
2019-20 GAC Record:
Head Coach: Andy Sharpe, Eighth Season (106-107)
SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS
SAU currently carries the second-longest losing streak in the GAC at four games dating back to January 2nd.
Despite that, the Muleriders are one of the top defensive teams in the GAC ranking second in scoring defense surrendering just 68.7 points per contest. SAU is also third in the conference just behind UAM in rebounding margin at +5.4.
SAU scores about 68.6 points per game while shooting 39.7 percent from the field and 28.4 percent from three-point range.
The Muleriders are led by a pair of scorers who average over 13.0 points per game in Devante Brooks (14.6) and Aaron Lucas (13.4).
D. Brooks also leads the team in rebounds averaging 8.9 per contest while Jalen Brooks is scoring 10.9 points per game and is second to D. Brooks in rebounds per game at 8.1.
UP NEXT
The Weevils will return home on Saturday with a GAC matchup against Ouachita Baptist University at 4 p.m. from the Steelman Field House in Monticello.
