Boll Weevils take first three exhibition games

   The University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils seek to continue a perfect exhibition season Nov. 11 as they travel south to take on Louisiana-Monroe at 7:05 p.m.

Upending Arkansas State

   Four University of Arkansas-Monticello players scored in double figures, led by Johnathon Holland's 19 points and 10 rebounds, as the Boll Weevils knocked off Arkansas State 71-66 at the ASU Convocation Center Nov. 8.

   Down 38-31 at the half, the Boll Weevils held Arkansas State without a basket until just under 12 minutes remained in the second half to pull within four, 45-41.

   From there, the Boll Weevils outscored ASU 9-5 to knot the game at 50-50 on Holland's three-point play, knocking down the free throw after hitting a jumper.

   The Boll Weevils took the lead for good and another three-point play by the newcomer, Holland.  The 6-11 center tied the game at 56-56, before connecting on the free throw to put UAM ahead 57-56 with 6:22 remaining. 

   UAM stretched its lead to seven with 1:19 to play, and never let the Indians get closer than three, before pulling away with the 71-66 victory.

   Holland led all UAM scorers with 19, while Billy McDaniel and Benas Matkevicius each dropped in 17 on the night.  Sophomore Nate Newell added 12 points, while Mike Reese dished out 6 assists in the win.

   Dewarick Spencer scored a game-high 23 points for the Indians, while J. J. Montgomery added 15 points.  Jerry Nichols and Isaac Wells scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort.

   As a team, UAM shot .462 (24-52) from the floor, while holding Arkansas State to a paltry .355 (22-62) shooting clip, including just 8-of-33 (.242) in the second half as Arkansas-Monticello completed the comeback win.

Sprinting past alumni

   Despite a 35-point effort from former Arkansas-Monticello star Steve Green, the 2004-05 Boll Weevil basketball team ran past the visiting alumni 128-66 in exhibition action Nov. 4.

   The current stars raced to a 30-5 advantage over the first eight minutes of the game, and never looked back, holding a 62-36 lead heading into intermission. It was more of the same in the second period, as the current players outscored the alumni 66-30 to finish out the game.

   Six current players scored in double digits, led by Holland and McDaniel. Holland dropped in 26 points and added 18 rebounds, while McDaniel  scored 25 points with eight caroms. Matkevicius added 22 points and eight rebounds in the win, while Newell, Damon Harris and Reese chipped in 14, 12 and 10 points, respectively. Reese also dished out a game-high six assists with zero turnovers on the night.

   Green led all scores with 35 points, while Alumni Curtis Shack added 14 in the loss. Current student assistant coach David Clark pulled down seven rebounds for the former players.

Demolishing CBC

   Holland scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while McDaniel tallied 17 boards and added 14 points to lead UAM to a 108-53 victory over Central Baptist in exhibition action Oct. 30 at the Steelman Fieldhouse.

   The Boll Weevil began the game slow and did not lead until Holland connected on his only three-point attempt from the floor, giving UAM a 25-24 advantage with 7:44 to play in the first half. After Central Baptist tied the game at 25-25, UAM scored six straight to finally pull away from the Mustangs.

   In the opening frame, UAM committed 12 turnovers and only led by six at the break, despite shooting .485 (16-33) from the floor. 

   In the second half, however, the Boll Weevils fired on all cylinders, using a 20-3 run over the first 5:32 of the second half to grab a commanding 55-32 lead with 14:28 remaining. From there, UAM never looked back, outscoring its opponents 73-24 in the second half to capture the 55-point victory.

   In the second period, the Boll Weevils shot .625 (25-40) from the floor, including five of 12 from three-point range.

   Holland scored 30 points on 12-of-13 shooting, while Matkevicius netted 22 points in the win. McDaniel chipped in 14 points, while Harris and Kendrick Morris each added 10 points as five Boll Weevils scored in double digits.

   Martin Stringer was the lone Mustang to score in double digits, leading the way with 12 points, while Ricquan Thomas added nine in the loss.

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