Game 1: Arkansas-Monticello (GAC) vs. Northeastern State University (MIAA)
Friday, Nov. 14 | 7:00 p.m. | Tahlequah, Oklahoma (NSU Event Center)
Radio: None
Live Stats | Live Video | Riverhawks Roster | Series History

Game 2: Arkansas-Monticello (GAC) vs. University of Central Oklahoma (MIAA)
Saturday, Nov. 15 | 2:00 p.m. | Tahlequah, Oklahoma (NSU Event Center)
Radio: None
Live Stats | Live Video | Bronchos Roster
 
2025-26 Arkansas-Monticello Weevils Roster | GAC Men's Basketball

Social Media | X Accounts: @UAMsports & @uammbb |  All scoring information and in-game updates.

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MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello Men's Basketball team will open its 2025-26 campaign on Friday, November 14, and Saturday, November 15, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, home of the Northeastern State University Riverhawks, in the 2025 Central Region Challenge. The Boll Weevils will take on the Riverhawks of Northeastern State University on Friday at 7:00 p.m., followed by a midday meeting with the Bronchos of the University of Central Oklahoma on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. inside the NSU Event Center.

Coming off a devastating 85-56 loss to the Ouachita Baptist Tigers to conclude their 2024-25 season, the Weevils are hungry for a fresh start and new beginnings as they look towards the upcoming Central Region Challenge.

"We are excited about getting started. This weekend will be a good challenge for us on the road against two really good teams," said Head Coach Chad Tapp. "It's such a long season with plenty of opportunities to get better and this is the first step."

PRESEASON NOTES
Starting off the 2025-26 campaign ranked 11th in the GAC Preseason Conference Poll, the Boll Weevils are ready to prove what they are made of with a newly built roster and staff that includes seven transfers, three returnees, two true freshmen, and a new assistant coach.

Also joining the Weevils for the season is recently announced University of Arkansas at Monticello alum Cole Anderson, who was hired as the new Assistant Men's Basketball Coach under 5th-year Head Coach Chad Tapp. The Boll Weevils will also be joined by Caleb Jones, who serves as the team's student assistant.

2025-26 Roster:
#2 Lamont Jackson - Guard | Senior Transfer from Three Rivers Community College
#3 Giancarlo Valdez - Guard | Graduate Student Transfer from Lee University
#5 Gianssen Valdez - Guard | True Freshman from Madison Academy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
#10 Felix Smedjeback - Guard/Wing | Junior Transfer from Eastern Arizona College
#12 Isaac Jackson - Guard | Returning Senior
#15 Josh Smith - Forward | Junior Transfer from Langston University
#20 Giancarlo Bastianoni - Forward | Graduate Student Transfer from the University of New Hampshire
#22 Elem Shelby - Guard | True Freshman from Benton High School in Benton, Arkansas
#23 Jakob Zenon - Guard | Senior Transfer from Arkansas Tech University
#24 Charles Temple - Guard | Returning Senior
#25 Bryson Hammond - Center | Returning Sophomore
#30 Ashton Price - Guard | Junior Transfer from Mountain View Community College
#33 Jackson Edwards - Guard | True Freshman from Greenbrier High School in Greenbrier, Arkansas

LAST MEETING
Northeastern State University - The last time the Riverhawks and Boll Weevils met was in 2011, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with the Weevils winning 61-50 at the UAFS Lions' Classic. The game was close throughout the entire first half, with neither team able to get a double-digit lead on the other. NSU was up 26-25 with 44 seconds to play in the half when Lonnie Cottrell connected with a layup in traffic that drew the foul, giving the Weevils the slim 27-26 lead going into the break. The second half started much as the first half had ended with both teams trading fouls and baskets. A jumper from Northeastern's Justin Johnson gave NSU a 34-33 lead with just under 16 minutes to play, but it would turn out to be their last of the game. L.A. Farmer retook the lead for the Weevils with a layup at 13:37, 35-34. It sparked a 14-4 run by UAM that put them up 11, 49-38, after a pair of Farmer free throws. From there, the lead climbed as high as 14 (twice) as the Weevils controlled the clock and wore down the RiverHawks to the final buzzer.

University of Central Oklahoma - This will be the first meeting between the Bronchos and Boll Weevils.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Northeastern State University - Both Arkansas-Monticello and Northeastern State have one win in the win column as these two programs have only ever met twice, in 1987 (a loss for the Weevils, 40-72) and in 2011 (a win for UAM, 61-50). The Boll Weevils are averaging 50.5 points against the Riverhawks, with 101 points in total.

University of Central Oklahoma - This will be the first meeting between the Bronchos and Boll Weevils in the history of both programs.

GAME RECAPS
After the conclusion of each game, Weevil Basketball will have a release posted to uamsports.com, X and Facebook, which will give a recap of the game. They can be found on the schedule page as a clickable link after the end of each game, or on UAM Sports social media accounts.

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 X, Instagram, and Facebook.

#ChooseTheWrench | #WeevilNation