BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball team fell in overtime against Henderson State University on Friday afternoon from the Bruin Field House in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in the first round of the Great American Conference Tournament, 89-83. With the loss, UAM's season comes to a close as they finish the year with a 19-13 overall record and an 11-11 conference mark.
 
UAM had an eight-point lead in the final two minutes of regulation, but the Reddies went on an 8-0 run and tied the game with 16 seconds left sending it to overtime.
 
HSU then opened the overtime period with a 9-0 run and never looked back going on to win the game, 89-83.
 
The Weevils controlled most of the contest after tying it up 20-20 with under 10 to play in the first period. They then took a three-point lead after a three by KJ Lesure.
 
Later in the period, UAM continued to look strong when Denzel McDuffey hit a basket to push the lead ahead to three, 34-31. The Weevils later got the lead to nine points on a basket from McDuffey and took a seven-point lead into halftime, 42-35.
 
Early in the second half, the Weevils stretched their lead to 10 points and kept it there for some time. Eventually, McDuffey helped get the lead up to 11 points with 4:35 remaining in the game, 69-58.
 
However, after a fastbreak bucket by Marcus Gilbert made it 71-63 in favor of UAM, HSU went on a run in the final two minutes. They got baskets from Raekwon Rogers, Rel Johnson and some free throws from Chris Parker made it a two-point game. Following a UAM timeout, the Weevils missed a jumper and Rogers hit a game-tying layup with 16 seconds left.
 
The Weevils did have a shot to win the game with three seconds, but the layup was missed, sending the contest into overtime.
 
HSU went on a 9-0 run to begin overtime, but UAM did cut into it in the final minute. Down seven, Gilbert hit a layup, and Wanya King got a steal and pulled up from deep cutting the lead to four with 39 seconds remaining.
 
The Weevils then fouled, but Henderson State hit both free throws getting the advantage back to six points. Gilbert later went to the line with 12 seconds getting it back to four points, but the Reddies responded at the line, hitting both and going on to win the contest, 89-83.
 
Lesure led all scorers with 29 points. He also had three rebounds and two steals.
 
Gilbert also finished in double-figures with 19 points, and so did McDuffey tallying 15 points.
 
With the loss, the Weevils are eliminated from the tournament and the season comes to a conclusion.
 
The UAM men's basketball team will take the court next year in 2020-2021.