SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – For just the seventh time in the program’s history, the University of Arkansas at Monticello men’s basketball team has recorded 20 wins in a season thanks to a 76-63 win over Montevallo in the opening round of the 2009 Gulf South Conference Championship Tournament.

 

Two of those 20-win seasons have now come under the reign of current head coach Mike Newell, who led the 2005-06 Weevils to a 21-11 overall record and a berth in the NCAA South Regional Tournament.

 

The Weevils (20-8) struggled from the field throughout the game, finishing with a 37 percent performance, while the Falcons (15-16) connected on a 47 percent rate.

 

One of the biggest keys to UAM’s win was the turnover battle. The Weevils committed only 10 turnovers in the win and forced 19.

 

“The turnover battle was definitely the difference in the game,” said Newell in his post-game press conference. “We knew we had to put pressure on their guards to win, and we did a great job of that tonight.”

 

Senior Bernard Seymour led all scorers with 22 points, while also tallying four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Seymour was also on the positive end of four player-control charging fouls.

 

“Bernard played as good of a game on both ends of the court as I’ve seen since becoming head coach here at UAM,” said Newell.

 

Senior Deron Brown added 18 points in the win, 12 points coming from beyond three-point range. Junior Derek Easter rounded out UAM’s double-digit scorers with 16 points.

 

Montevallo was paced by Nate Flowers with 16 points, Terrill Humphrey with 14 points and Andre McMillan with 12 points.

 

UAM continues play in the GSC Tournament on Friday, March 6 against the No. 1 seed from the GSC-East, Valdosta State. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Desoto Civic Center.