Box Score

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The University of Arkansas-Monticello pulled away with late second half run to defeat Southwest Minnesota State 70-55 in men's college basketball on Sunday afternoon. The game was part of the Central Region Tip-Off Classic played at the Multipurpose Building on the campus of the University of Central Missouri.
 
SMSU, which defeated Central Missouri in the season opener on Saturday, trailed UAM 46-45 with eight minutes remaining in the second half, but the Boll Weevils countered with a 20-4 run over the next six minutes to pull away and seal the victory.
 
UAM, which lost to Augustana on Saturday night, made 6 of 10 field goals and 7 of 8 free throws during the decisive run, while SMSU was just 1 of 8 from the field.
 
Kenny Byers led the Mustangs for the second straight game recording his second straight double-double. He finished with a game-high 18 points on 9 of 14 shooting and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
Brian Dayman was the only other Mustang to reach double figure scoring with 10 points on 4 of 8 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers, while also grabbing five rebounds. Jake Phipps added six points and six rebounds for the Mustangs.
 
SMSU finished the game shooting 42 percent (22 of 53) from the field which includes 6 of 17 from 3-point range. SMSU made 5 of 11 free throws, committed 14 turnovers and was outrebounded 36-35.
 
UAM closed the game shooting 43 percent (25 of 58) with five 3-pointers. Despite holding a slight rebound advantage, the Weevils outscored the Mustangs, 16-6 on second chance points. UAM also held a 21-6 scoring edge on points off of turnovers.
 
SMSU trailed for most of the first 10 minutes of the game before Braedan Hanson connected on a 3-pointer to put the Mustangs in front at 18-16 midway through the half. Byers would hit jumper at the 2:50 mark to tie the game 24, but the Weevils closed the half on a 10-4 run to build a 34-28 halftime advantage.
 
UAM pushed the lead to 39-28 early in the second half, but then struggled shooting and SMSU rallied back behind a 3-poitner by Grant Kramer and two field goals by Byers to cut the deficit to 39-35 at the 15:45 mark.
 
The game would remain a two possession game for the next eight minutes with SMSU cutting the UAM lead to one-point on a pair of occasions, including at 46-45 with just over eight minutes left in the game.
 
UAM then used the game-changing run to earn the victory in the first-ever match-up between the two programs. Both SMSU and UAM played at the 2017 NCAA Central Region Tournament in Maryville, Mo.
 
UAM had five players score in double figures with Justin Slocum and KL Lesure each scoring 14 points.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues non-conference play next weekend with two games at the American Family Insurance Classic hosted by Minnesota Duluth. SMSU opens plays on Friday at 5 p.m. versus Stonehill College (Mass.) (1-1), before taking on Northern Michigan on Saturday at 3 p.m.