BETHANY, Okla. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball team lost on the road at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma on Saturday. The Weevils made a late push to get the lead to single-digits, but it was not enough as they fell in their final regular season contest, 77-68.
 
Despite the loss, UAM will play as the sixth seed in the Great American Conference Tournament next Friday in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
 
Along with that news, the Weevils also saw a record being tied as KJ Lesure earned his 180th assist of the season which now ties the all-time single-season UAM mark.
 
In the contest, Justin Slocum led the way for the Weevils with 16 points, five rebounds, one block and one steal.
 
Austin Hardy also had a solid day finishing with 14 points going 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-5 from downtown.
 
With the loss, UAM concludes the regular season with a 19-12 overall record and an 11-11 GAC mark while Southern Nazarene is 23-7 overall and 17-5 in GAC games.
 
UAM found itself down by double-digits by the end of the first half, but used the second half to get within striking distance.
 
Early in the second half, the Weevils were down by 12, but a three-pointer from Hardy cut it to nine. Later in the half, they brought the deficit down to four points after Marcus Gilbert hit from downtown to make it 53-49 SNU.
 
As time continued, UAM stayed around that margin until the final minutes. After a Crimson Storm basket gave them a seven-point advantage, Slocum hit a bucket in the paint to cut it to five. However, Southern Nazarene was forced to go to the line later in the final minute and hit all four of their free throws, putting the game about out of reach. The Crimson Storm went on to win by nine, 77-68.
 
UP NEXT
The Weevils will continue their season next Friday at the GAC Tournament when they play three-seeded Henderson State University from Bartlesville, Oklahoma.