Nate Newell (Sr., Monticello, Ark.) scored a game-high 30 points to lead the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (4-2) to an 85-82 victory over the Loyola University Wolfpack on Sunday at Steelman Fieldhouse.

   Loyola took an early lead, jumping ahead 16-5 just under seven minutes into the game, and kept their lead at or close to 10 points until the 8:12 mark, when the Weevils began to chip away at the Wolfpack’s lead. UAM tied the game on a Newell three-pointer with 4:18 remaining in the half, and pulled ahead on another Newell three seconds later.

   UAM’s lead went to as many as five (40-35) with 1:58 remaining in the half, before the Wolfpack closed the gap, tying the game at 40 on a layup by Luke Zumo with 1:03 left before intermission.

   With the game tied at halftime, the Weevils pushed ahead by as many as 12 (72-60) with 7:15 left in the contest, but the Wolfpack would not quit, as they pulled to within two (78-76) after a Zumo three-pointer with 1:34 left in the contest.

   UAM extended their lead to six again, but once again Loyola responded, as James Bunn buried a three-pointer with six seconds left to pull the Wolfpack to within two.

   Newell was fouled on the inbounds pass, and hit his first free throw to extend the UAM lead to three; but missed the second, and the Wolfpack had one last shot; but Zumo’s three-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out and the Weevils escaped with the victory.

   Newell’s 30 points led all scorers. Torre Doty (Sr., Austin, Texas) added 26 points and eleven rebounds, while Ryan Nelson (So., Rochester, Mich.) and MJumbe “J.B.” Williams (Sr., Compton, Calif.) were also in double figures with 14 and 11 points, respectively. Williams also dished out a game-high seven assists.

   The game was UAM’s last home game before the start of Gulf South Conference season, as the Weevils begin a five-game road trip with their next game on Dec. 18, as they travel to Hawaii to face Hawaii-Hilo.

   The Weevils’ next home game will be Saturday, Jan. 6, as they open Gulf South Conference play against Harding. Tip-off from Steelman Fieldhouse is set for 2 p.m.

   STRONG SECOND HALF PROPELS WEEVILS PAST ECCLESIA

   The Boll Weevils (3-2) scored 58 second-half points to roll to an 85-70 victory over the Ecclesia College Royals 85-70 on Saturday at Steelman Fieldhouse.

   Both the Royals and Weevils were plagued by poor shooting in the first half, as UAM shot 32.3 percent on 10-of-31 shooting, while the Royals shot 35.1 percent on 13-of-37 shooting.

   Despite the poor shooting, the Weevils opened the game with a 14-4 lead with just under 13 minutes left in the opening half. The Weevils led by as many as nine (27-18) with 4:23 left in the half after a jumper by Doty but Ecclesia closed the half on a 9-0 run, tying the game 27-27 on a last-second three-pointer by Jarome Addison.

  Ecclesia briefly pulled ahead in the opening minutes of the second half, as Calvin Woods buried a three-pointer with 18:01 left in the contest to give the Royals a 33-32 lead, but the Weevils answered on the next possession as Nelson hit a lay-up to put the Weevils back on top, and UAM would not relinquish the lead the remainder of the way, pushing ahead by as many as 16 (56-40) with 11:53 remaining in the game.

   Newell led all scorers with 29 points. Doty added 21, Williams scored 16 and Nelson added 13 in the victory.

   Nelson’s game-high 11 rebounds gave him his first double-double of the season.

   UAM held a slight rebounding edge, snagging 45 boards to Ecclesia’s 42.


   SECOND-HALF RALLY FALLS SHORT AS WEEVILS FALL TO WOLVES

   The Boll Weevils (2-2) staged a furious second-half rally but ultimately came up short against the West Georgia Wolves (4-3), falling 82-72 on Thursday at Steelman Fieldhouse.

   The Wolves shot 63 percent from the floor on 17-of-27 shooting, knocking down six three-pointers in the first half to race out to a 23-point (43-20) lead with four minutes remaining in the half. UAM closed the gap, pulling to within 17 (45-28) at halftime on a last-second jumper by Nate Newell (Sr., Monticello, Ark.).

   West Georgia pushed ahead yet again, pulling ahead by 22 (55-33) with 16:02 remaining before the Weevils closed the gap, pulling to within ten (68-58) with 5:52 remaining. The Wolves would answer, pushing ahead 76-60 again with 2:47 left.

   The margin was too great for UAM to overcome, as the Weevils could only pull to within nine (81-72) in the closing minute of the game.

   Newell led all players with 31 points. Doty scored 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the floor. Terrence Hundley led UWG with 27 points.

   The Wolves held a 35-23 rebounding advantage, including a 12-4 advantage on the offensive glass, while UAM shot 95.5 percent (21-of-22) from the free-throw line.