LITTLE ROCK — MEN
ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 51, ARKANSAS TECH 50
RUSSELLVILLE - Arkansas-Monticello held Arkansas Tech to 35.4 percent shooting and made nine threepointers in beating the Great American Conference’s first-place team Thursday at Tucker Coliseum.
The Wonder Boys (14-9, 11-6) had won four consecutive games and had lost just once at home all season. But they made only 17 of 48 shots from the floor, including 1 of 11 three-pointers, and committed 16 turnovers.
Led by Josh Gibson, who made 5 of 7 three-pointers, Arkansas-Monticello (15-8, 10-7) made 9 of 22 three-pointers. Gibson finished with a game-high 16 points, while Brandon Sims finished with 14.
Jared Williamson finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Willie Kirkland had 13 points for the Wonder Boys, who fell into a tie with Harding for first place in the GAC standings.
The Boll Weevils won for the fourth consecutive game.
HARDING 93, SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 87, OT
SEARCY - Hayden Johnson scored five points and had four rebounds in overtime to help Harding outlast Southern Arkansas on Thursday at Rhodes Field House and snap a four-game losing streak.
Johnson finished with a team-high 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Bisons (18-7, 11-6), while Adam Sterrenberg hit a crucial three-pointer in overtime and finished with 18 points.
Andraz Kavas had 17 points for Harding, Zach Roddenberry added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Weston Jameson had 12 points.
Chris Davis led Southern Arkansas (9-14, 5-12), which shot 46.5 percent from the floor, with 21 points. Rodney Hill had 18 points, Duke Reed had 17 and Ricky Allen finished with 13.
With the victory, Harding pulled into a first-place tie atop the GAC standings with Arkansas Tech.
HENDERSON STATE 59, SW OKLAHOMA STATE 55
WEATHERFORD, Okla. - Peri James made two free throws with 7 seconds left to help Henderson State hold on for a road victory Thursday night.
The Reddies (12-11, 7-10) led 53-42 with 1:19 left and 56-50 with 40 seconds left. But Southwestern Oklahoma State (9-15, 8-10) got two free throws and a three-pointer by Marian Zelalija with 17 seconds left to get within 57-55. Henderson State’s Denzel Lyles then committed a turnover giving the Bulldogs the ball back with 12 seconds left. But Dominick Cornelius got a steal for the Reddies with 8 seconds left and James made the game-clinching free throws.
Lyles had 17 points and Andrew Ensley added 12 for the Reddies.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Ark.-Monticello 51, Arkansas Tech 50 Harding 93, So. Arkansas 87, OT Henderson St. 59, SW Okla. St. 55 So. Nazarene 55, E. Central (Okla.) 48
WOMEN
ARKANSAS TECH 73, ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 53
RUSSELLVILLE - Roselis Silva scored 11 of her team-high 18 points in the first half to help Arkansas Tech to a big lead in a victory Thursday night at Tucker Coliseum.
The Golden Suns (17-6, 14-3 Great American Conference) shot 53.3 percent in the first half to take a 38-22 lead at halftime. Tech’s fifth consecutive victory kept it alone atop the GAC standings.
Arkansas-Monticello (5-18, 2-15) shot 46.3 percent for the game, but committed 24 turnovers and was out rebounded 33-26 in its fifth loss in six games.
Jessica Weatherford added 12 points for Arkansas Tech, while Tikeyiah Johnson added 10 and Caroline Eubanks had 8 points and 10 rebounds.
Jordan Howlingwolf led UAM with 18 points and eight rebounds.
HARDING 97, SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 42
SEARCY - Kristen Celsor had 27points and 12 rebounds to help Harding earn its third consecutive victory Thursday night at Rhodes Field House.
Celsor made 12 of 13 shots from the floor, including 2 of 3 three-pointers, in 25 minutes while helping the Lady Bisons (16-7, 12-5) shoot 60.6 percent from the floor in reaching a season-high point total.
Shana Holmes added 17 points for Harding, while Lauren Harrison and Deshelle Isaac-Boyce each scored 12 points.
Southern Arkansas (0-22, 0-17) scored the game’s first five points before Harding went on a 10-0 run. The Lady Bisons never trailed again.
Tori Nichols led SAU with 12 points.
SW OKLAHOMA STATE 76, HENDERSON STATE 70
WEATHERFORD, OKLA. - SaRaya Oyler scored 20 points and Southwestern Oklahoma State handed Henderson State its sixth consecutive loss Thursday night.
Destiny Smith led Henderson State (10-13, 5-12) with 21 points, while Krystal Beachum had 15 and Jill Temples and Aungelique Sledge each had 11. Dulincia Keener added 5 points and 13 rebounds for the Lady Reddies, who led by eight points midway through the first half. But Southwestern Oklahoma State outscored Henderson State 22-13 over the final 9:02 of the first half to go up 33-32 at halftime. Henderson State led only twice in the second half and trailed the final 15 minutes of the game.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Arkansas Tech 73, Ark.-Monticello 53 Harding 97, Southern Arkansas 42 SW Okla. St. 76, Henderson St. 70 So. Nazarene 81, E. Central (Okla.) 72
Sports, Pages 21 on 02/22/2013