Alva Review-Courier -

MONTICELLO - The University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball team was taken down for the first time this season by Great American Conference opponent Arkansas Tech University Saturday afternoon inside Steelman Field House by a final score of 91-90.

UAM (14-1, 9-1 GAC) jumped out to an early large lead over the visiting Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech (11-4, 8-4 GAC) with a halftime advantage at 55-39 over ATU. The Wonder Boys however went on to overcome a 20 point deficit with just over 13:00 minutes left in the second half to take the lead over UAM, with just over 04:00 minutes left in regulation. The Weevils and ATU traded baskets down the stretch in this contest, but the game was finally decided on free throws as Tech knocked down consecutive foul shots to pull ahead 91-89 and Arkansas-Monticello could not even up the score with just under a second remaining.

The Weevils were led offensively by junior Derylton Hill as he totaled 24 points in the game on 9-for-13 shooting from the field. This was Hill's seventh 20 plus point game this season and the forward pulled down seven rebounds, dished out four assists, and added three steals to his stat-line as well.

Junior Cobe Goosby had himself a 20 point performance in the match-up and matched team leaders with seven rebounds and four assists of his own. Vicktor Arnick (16), Tyrin Jones (14), and Karim Mawuenyega (13) each posted double figure scoring in the contest as well.

Final team stats on the night for UAM included 45 percent shooting from the field (30-for-66), 27 percent on three's (4-for-15), and 79 percent on free throws (26-for-33). The Wonder Boys finished the game shooting 54 percent (32-for-59) from the field, 46 percent from beyond the arc (13-for-28), and 74 percent on foul shots (14-for-19).

Arkansas-Monticello will be back in action next on Thursday, January 26 against GAC foe East Central in Ada, Oklahoma with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.