LITTLE ROCK — MEN
HENDERSON STATE 70, UNION (TENN.) 67
Melvin Haynes’ three-pointer with four seconds left lifted Henderson State to a victory over Union in Jackson, Tenn.
With the Reddies railing 67-65 with 1:04 left to play, Andrew Ensley tied the game with two free throws with 48 seconds remaining. The Reddies (7-2) then forced a Bulldogs turnover to set up Haynes’ three.
Four Reddies scored 10 or more points, led by Lyles’ 20 points. Peri James followed with 13 points while Haynes scored 11 and Ensley added 10.
Freeman led the Bulldogs (2-7) with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Pedro Faller scored 14 points.
ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 53, DELTA STATE 43
Arkansas-Monticello outscored Delta State 13-5 in the final five minutes of host UAM’s fourth consecutive victory over the Statesmen in the past two seasons.
Before UAM’s run, the teams went back and-forth with 11 ties and 13 lead changes in the nonconference game. UAM (5-4) grabbed the lead for the final time on a 5-foot jumper from junior Jamal Nixon that put his team on top 37-36 with 8:26 remaining.
Delta State (2-5) held the largest lead of the first half at 21-16 following a 5-0 run capped by a put back from Terry Leake with 3:09 left. UAM responded with a 6-0 run to close out the first half to take a 22-21 lead at the break.
Senior Kori Forge lead the Boll Weevils with 15 points. Nixon and junior Josh Gibson each added 12 points. Delta State’s Terry Leake led all scorers with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
ARKANSAS TECH 76, MIDWESTERN STATE 73, 2OT
WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Bobby Hatchett scored 22 points, including three free throws in the final five seconds, to help Arkansas Tech to a double-overtime victory.
Hatchett made 4 of 12 shots and 14 of 18 free throws for the Wonder Boys (4-4), who beat the team that knocked them out of the NCAA Division II tournament last year.
Will Paul added 17 points and seven rebounds, Willie Kirkland had 16 points and Jared Williamson added 10 points for Arkansas Tech, which shot 54 percent from the floor in the first half to take a 29-21 lead.
Midwestern State (6-3) shot 43 percent in the second half and ended regulation on a 13-3 run to force overtime. Arkansas Tech led 51-41 with 4:13 left, but missed four shots and three turnovers down the stretch.
Corbin Thomas led Midwestern State with 20 points, Kevin Grayer had 15 and Monzaigo Williams had 14.
WOMEN
OUACHITA BAPTIST 71, TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE 56
Ouachita Baptist bounced back from a tough first half to earn a nonconference victory over Texas A&M-Commerce in Arkadelphia.
Ouachita Baptist (7-1) committed 12 turnovers in the first half but trailed just 33-30 at halftime. The Lady Tigers out rebounded Texas A&M-Commerce (3-4) in the second half, and had nine blocks and 11 steals, to lead by as many as 19 points.
Nashia James led Ouachita Baptist with 21 points and five rebounds. Monica Williams had 12 points and nine rebounds, while Kendra Coyle added 12 points.
Breana Harris led the Lady Lions with 13 points and six rebounds, while Kourtney Briscoe scored 12 points.
HARDING 72, MISSOURI SOUTHERN ST. 53
Junior forward Kristen Celsor scored a career-high 33 points to lead Harding (4-4) over Missouri Southern State at the Rhodes Field House in Searcy.
Celsor made 12 of 18 from the field and was 8 of 8 from the free throw line. It was the most points by a Harding player this season. She was the first Harding player to score more than 30 points since Sierra Rollins (2008-2012) had 34 against Southern Arkansas in 2011. Celsor also had a career-high six steals.
Missouri Southern State was led by Erin Rice and Shatara Jones, who came off the bench and scored 10 points each.
Sports, Pages 36 on 12/16/2012