Second-half Surge Seals Road Victory for Boll Weevils over HSU Reddies

Courtesy University of Arkansas at Monticello Athletics Department

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – After trailing by eight points at halftime, the University of Arkansas at Monticello men’s basketball team outscored Henderson State 36-20 in the second half to record a 60-52 road victory on Saturday in Great American Conference action.

UAM (11-6, 6-5 GAC) held HSU (9-8, 4-7 GAC) to just five field goals in the second half on 28 attempts, while the Boll Weevils were 11-of-23 in the second half for 48 percent. UAM also out rebounded HSU 45-31 for the game and 31-20 in the second half alone.

Despite committing a season high 24 turnovers, the Boll Weevils limited the Reddies to just 13 points off miscues. UAM forced 11 Reddie miscues, which led to seven points.

The Reddies led by at least five points for the last 13 minutes of the first half, extending that lead to double digits following a 7-3 scoring run with 2:25 remaining until halftime. That 10 point lead was HSU’s largest of the game.

UAM used two three pointers from junior Dayton Mickens and one from senior Kori Forge in the first four minutes of the second half to take the lead for the first time with 16:23 remaining in regulation. Also in that 16-4 scoring run to start the second half were a pair of layups from junior Brandon Sims, who ended the game with a career-high 19 points.

UAM held the lead for the remainder of the contest, despite HSU forcing the game’s first tie score on a layup from Denzel Lyles at the 14:18 mark.

The Reddies trimmed UAM’s lead to three points with just over three minutes remaining, but were held to just two points on free throws throughout the remainder of the contest. UAM used a layup from Forge and five made free throws in the final three minutes to seal the team’s second win over HSU this season.

As a team, UAM ended the game shooting 44 percent from the field (21-of-48), 30 percent on three-pointers (6-of-20) and 75 percent on foul shots (12-of-16). HSU shot 27 percent from the field (16-of-59), 15 percent on three-pointers (3-of-19) and 71 percent on foul shots (17-of-24).

In addition to Sims’ career and game high 19 points, Forge also totaled 19 points on a 7-for-12 shooting performance. Mickens also reached double-digits with 10 points. Senior A.J. Calhoun recorded a season high 16 rebounds in the win and nine points. 

Denzel Lyles led HSU off the bench with 11 points.

The Boll Weevils are back in action next Thursday, January 31 at home against Northwestern Oklahoma State. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Steelman Fieldhouse.