Weevils Win Three in a Row

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    Weevils Surge Past Philander Smith

   Billy McDaniel, a senior from Hearne, Texas, led all scorers with 26 points, and Nate Newell, a junior from Monticello, scored 24 points, including his 1,000th career point as the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (3-1) surged past Philander Smith 90-65.

   The Weevils never trailed in the contest. UAM opened the game with an 13-4 lead with 14:39 remaining in the opening half and pushed their lead ahead to as many as 15 (42-27) with 3:10 remaining in the first half.

   UAM went into the halftime period with a 10-point lead (44-34), but it was Philander Smith who would seize momentum early in the second half, narrowing UAM's lead to two (44-42) just three minutes in. The Weevils then surged ahead, with the 25-point final difference being UAM's biggest  lead of the night.

   McDaniel scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half, keying UAM’s late surge.

   Joining McDaniel and Newell in double figures for the Weevils were J.B. Williams, a junior from Compton, Calif., with 12 points and Brandon Mayweather, a senior from Crossett, with 11 points. McDaniel also had a game-high 12 rebounds.

   The Weevils dominated the glass, holding a 54-26 advantage, including a 21-10 advantage on the offensive glass. Philander Smith hit 13  three-pointers on the night.

   The Weevils return to action Wednesday, Dec. 7, as they travel to Little Rock for a rematch with Philander Smith. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.


   Newell Leads Weevils Past Florida Gulf Coast

   FORT MYERS, FLA. --- After being held scoreless for the entire first half, Newell scored 14 of his 28 points in the last 6:55 of  the second half to break open a six-point ballgame as the Boll Weevils rolled to a 73-50 win over South Region foe Florida Gulf Coast (3-1) Nov. 26 at Alico Arena.

   The Weevils took an early lead, pushing their lead to five (13-8) on a Johnathan Holland, a senior from Los Angeles, Calif., jumper with 13:18 remaining in the opening half. The Eagles narrowed the UAM lead to one (15-14) on a free throw by Gabe Pean, and, on their very next possession, took the lead (16-15) on a fast break layup by Pean with 7:55 remaining.

   The two teams traded leads over the next six minutes, but McDaniel gave the Weevils a one-point lead (25-24) with a jumper,  and the Weevils held the Eagles scoreless for the remainder of the first half, going into the intermission with a five point (29-24) lead.

   UAM surged ahead in the second half, outscoring the Eagles 19-8 in the opening minutes to take a 16-point (48-32) lead with 13:22 remaining. Florida Gulf  Coast called a timeout to regroup and clawed back, narrowing the Weevil lead to six (54-48) with 6:55 remaining.

   Just 25 seconds later, Newell hit a pair of free-throws to start a 19-2 run that spanned the final 6:30 of the contest as the Boll Weevils cruised to the  victory.

  Newell's 28 points on 8-of-13 shooting led all scorers while Holland joined Newell in double figures with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Holland added a  game-high 10 rebounds. UAM held a 42-30 rebounding advantage for the contest while forcing 16 FGCU turnovers.

   UAM shot 60 percent (15-of-25) in the second half.


  Holland Propels Weevils Past No. 10 Lynn

   BOCA RATON, Fla. --- Holland scored 21 points on 11-of-13 shooting to lead the Boll Weevils to a 74-61 win over the No. 10 Lynn Fighting Nights Nov. 24 at the de Hoernle Center.

   The Weevils started hot, opening the game on a 7-0 run over the first 2:20, and continued to hold Lynn at bay throughout the first half. Lynn narrowed  the margin to just one point (19-18), but the Weevils pushed ahead yet again, taking a five-point halftime lead (32-25).

   Lynn finally tied the game in the second half, knotting the contest at 47-47 after an Evan Cohn jumper with 11:03 left in the second half. Holland hit a  layup just two minutes later to break the tie and the Weevils held their lead the remainder of the way.

   The Weevils did not trail at all during the game.

   Holland posted a game-high 21 points while MJumbe Williams, a junior from Compton, Calif., scored 17 points, Newell scored 13 points, and McDaniel scored points. UAM shot 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the floor for the game.

   The Weevils out-rebounded the Fighting Knights 35-29.

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