MONTEVALLO, Ala.  – With a 65-61 win over West Florida in the Montevallo Classic, the University of Arkansas at Monticello men’s basketball team has extended its winning streak to eight wins in as many games this season, tying the longest winning streak of the Mike Newell era.

The last time a Mike Newell guided UAM team won eight straight games was in the 2004-05 season, when the Weevils stretched eight straight wins in a over month. Eight straight wins is the third longest winning streak in UAM’s 63 year-history. The longest is 14 wins twice – first in the 1959-60 season, second in the 1985-86 season.

Senior Raymond Wright (New York, N.Y.) and junior Lorenzo Shine (Detroit, Mich.) tied for the game-lead in scoring with 17 points each. Wright was 6-of-9 from the field and 5-of-8 from the free-throw line, while Shine was 5-of-9 from the field, 3-of-4 from three-point range and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. It was Shine’s career high.

The Weevils (8-0) held a lead of 16 points with just less than seven minutes left in regulation with a  three-pointer from Shine to give UAM a 51-35 advantage, but West Florida (4-2) slowly trimmed the lead.

With 15 seconds remaining in the contest, West Florida’s Deondre Boynton nailed a pair of free-throws to put the Argos down by five. Just 10 seconds later, UWF’s Ryan Henry nailed a three-pointer to trim the Weevil lead to three at 64-61. The Argos were forced to foul UAM’s sophomore Marius Williams (Belleville, Mich.), who nailed 1-of-2 free-throws to clinch the victory.

UAM won the rebound category 36-31, led by Wright and junior James Early (Arlington, Ga.) with six each.

The Weevils continue a five-game road trip with three contests remaining in the 2008 portion of the schedule. The Weevils travel to Lemoyne-Owen on December 13, followed by a pair of games against Texas A&M-Commerce and St. Edwards in the St. Edwards Classic on December 29-30.