UAM Basketball Back at Home for Matchup Against Southern Nazarene

Courtesy UAM Athletics Department

MONTICELLO — The University of Arkansas at Monticello basketball teams return to Steelman Fieldhouse on Thursday, January 10 for a Great American Conference double header against Southern Nazarene University. The women’s game will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the men’s game to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The Cotton Blossoms (2-9, 0-6 GAC) are coming off losses to East Central (74-45) and Southeastern Oklahoma State (90-84) last week on the road, while the Crimson Storm women (5-7, 2-4 GAC) split last week at home with a 71-64 loss to league-leading Ouachita Baptist on Thursday and a 64-60 victory over Henderson State on Saturday.

The Crimson Storm has the league’s top scorer in Oumoul Thiam, who is currently averaging 23.1 points per game, mostly coming on 32 made three-pointers. SNU ranks sixth in the GAC in scoring at just over 68 points per game, while ranking ninth in scoring defense, giving up almost 70 points per outing.

SNU holds a commanding advantage in the league in blocked shots, with a total of 83 for an average of 6.9 per game. Forwards Aminata Fall (6’4”) and Annie Kassongo (6’2”) lead the way individually with 31 and 29 blocked shots, respectively.

UAM is led by freshman Donlicia James, who is averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Freshman Jordan Goforth follows closely with an average of 9.2 points per outing. The Cotton Blossoms rank ninth in the league in scoring at 61.7 points per game and seventh in scoring defense, allowing 68.5 points per contest.

The Boll Weevils (7-5, 2-4 GAC) split a pair of league games this past week on the road with a 69-59 win over East Central on Thursday followed by a 67-61 loss to Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Crimson Storm men (7-5, 2-4 GAC) also split last week, picking up a 72-67 win over Ouachita Baptist on Thursday and falling 93-82 to Henderson State on Saturday, both games at home in Bethany, Oklahoma.

SNU leads the GAC in total points (931) and is tied with Southern Arkansas for scoring average with a clip of 77.6 points per contest, and the team also leads the league in field goal percentage, making 48.5 percent of its shots. SNU is ninth in the league in scoring defense, allowing 71.7 points per game.

SNU has four scorers averaging in double-digits, led by Ryan Aaron, the league’s second leading scorer at 19.3 points per game. Tyrone Lyons has made only one start this year, but averages 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in an average of 28 minutes per outing. Quan Conner and Brady Burford round out the SNU double-digit scorers with averages of 14.6 and 12.6 points per game, respectively.

UAM is led by senior guard Kori Forge, who is leading the GAC with an average 20.3 points per game. Junior forward Dayton Mickens follows with an average of 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, following his career high of 21 points in last Thursday’s win over East Central. Senior A.J. Calhoun, who has posted two straight double-doubles averages 9.7 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game.

The Boll Weevils rank eighth in the league in scoring with an average of 68.9 points per game, but the team leads the GAC in scoring defense, giving up only 60.9 points per outing. UAM ranks in the top five of 11 other GAC statistical categories, including the league’s third best turnover margin at +2.17.

Thursday’s games against Southern Nazarene will be covered live and for free at uamsports.com with streaming video, audio and live stats.