MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball team dropped its last home contest of the 2019-20 season to Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday from the Steelman Field House in Monticello, Arkansas, 73-71. Even with the loss, however, UAM still clinched a spot in the Great American Conference Tournament.
 
Prior to the game, UAM honored the careers of seniors Marcus Gilbert, Austin Hardy, KJ Lesure, Kwame McBean and Justin Slocum for their outstanding contributions to the UAM men's basketball program.
 
The game was a close throughout with both teams pretty evenly matched. It was not until the final few minutes that Southeastern regained the lead. UAM could not hit a last-second three to try and win, falling, 73-71.
 
The Savage Storm took a fairly early lead in the first period, but it was not by much. Both teams traded buckets right until the final two minutes of the first half as UAM got a lead. With the Weevils down by one with 3:05 remaining, they got big baskets from Gilbert and Hardy, and Lesure nailed a three at the buzzer to give UAM a 40-33 lead at halftime.
 
For the first five minutes of the second period, the Weevils maintained their lead, until Kevin Buckingham hit a three-pointer to give the Savage Storm a 51-50 advantage. From there, they kept that lead around eight up until the final minute.
 
The Weevils got it back down to one point after Gilbert hit a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining. UAM then fouled with a few seconds left on the clock and Buckingham hit one-of-two free throws to make it 73-71. With 5.1 seconds left, UAM then pushed it up the floor and Lesure pulled up from deep, but it just missed as the Weevils fell, 73-71.
 
Slocum tallied a double-double scoring 25 points and snagging 11 rebounds. He also got a pair of blocks on defense.
 
Gilbert, Lesure and Hardy were also in double-figures tallying 14, and 11 points each, respectively.
 
With the loss, the Weevils fall to 19-10 overall and 11-9 in GAC play while SEOSU improves to 20-7 overall and 14-6 in GAC games. Despite UAM's loss, Arkansas Tech fell Saturday as well allowing UAM to earn a spot in the GAC Tournament. It will be the fourth consecutive season the Weevils have appeared in the tournament.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will play its final two games on the road next week. First, it will travel to Oklahoma Baptist University on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game.