SHAWNEE, Okla. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello Men's Basketball team began their 2024 Great American Conference Tournament run on Friday against Southern Nazarene University. The Boll Weevils came out of the game with a 72-70 overtime loss to the Crimson Storm.

Zane Nelson led the way for Arkansas-Monticello (13-15, 11-11 GAC) in the final game of the year, posting 24 points in the quarterfinals. Nelson saw a 6-23 performance on field goals, hitting 2-7 shots from deep, and was perfect from the free throw line, going 10-10 on the game. He also grabbed one defensive rebound, had one steal, and dished out one assist.

Isaac Jackson trailed by one, scoring 22 total on the afternoon. Jackson posted an 8-16 showing on field goals and hitting his one and only three on the game. He also hit 5-6 shots from the line and saw three rounds, three assists, three steals, and a block on the day.

Josh Denton was the final Boll Weevil in double digits, closing out the season with a 12-point performance. Denton hit 4-7 field goals, 1-7 threes, and 3-3 shots from the line with nine rebounds grabbed.
 
Southern Nazarene (15-13, 11-11 GAC) was led by Tyrell Coleman with 28 points.

GAME RECAP
The first half proved to be a climb for Monticello, seeing a half-high 12-point deficit for UAM. Southern Nazarene took the lead early, scoring the first six points of the game before the Boll Weevils found two free throws from Zane Nelson. After the Crimson Storm continued to push their lead forward, hitting a layup to reach a 12-point lead with 8:03 left in the first half. UAM found their momentum throughout the remaining minutes, seeing multiple Boll Weevils put up points as they clawed their way back into the game. Junior Josh Denton tied the game at 27-27 with 1:49 on the clock, hitting an and-one free throw to complete the three-point play. After a few final baskets from both side, the teams were sent to the locker rooms at half with the score tied at 31-31.

The second 20 minutes opened with a battle between the two teams, seeing neither pull more than four points ahead, and a combined six ties throughout the first 10 minutes of the half. After seeing five more draws, the Storm pulled four points ahead with one minute remaining. Jackson nailed a three with 26 seconds on the clock to put the Boll Weevils within one, keeping his poise as they continued late in the high-pressure section of the half. After a timeout for Southern Nazarene, the storm collected a couple free throws to increase their lead to 64-61. Zane Nelson stepped up big for the Boll Weevils, hitting a deep three with three seconds remaining on the clock to tie the game at 64-64, eventually sending the game into overtime.

Nelson scored the first points of the period for UAM, hitting his seventh and eighth free throws to Monticello a momentary lead. After seeing the another draw, courtesy of Nelsons final two shots from the line, the Crimson Storm would reclaim the advantage late and close out the overtime period with a 72-70 loss for the Boll Weevils to end the 2023-24 season.

Arkansas-Monticello committed 14 turnovers in the entirety of the match.


UP NEXT
The Weevils will be back in action this fall as they begin the 2024-25 campaign.

How to follow the Weevils: For more information on Arkansas-Monticello Men's Basketball, visit www.uamsports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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