Boll Weevils hold off Lions’ second-half comeback bid

Editor’s note: Story by Jonathan Gipson, sports information director for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

MONTICELLO, Ark. – Three players scored in double-figures to help the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils fend off a second half comeback by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Lions on Saturday and post a 62-53 win at Steelman Fieldhouse.

It was the first ever meeting between the Boll Weevils, who compete in the Gulf South Conference, and the Lions, who are making their NCAA Division II debut and compete in the Heartland Conference.

It was the last of six consecutive road games for UAFS, who played four NCAA Division I teams during that stretch. UA Fort Smith (1-6) will play only its second home game on Tuesday at 8 p.m., when its hosts UA Monticello (2-3) at the Stubblefield Center.

After trailing by seven points at halftime, the Lions fell behind by as many as 15 points in the second half. However, UAFS answered almost every one of UA Monticello’s spurts with a run of its own.

The Lions got within six points twice in the final 20-minute stretch – the last time coming on a jumper by junior Chris Williams with 3:37 left to play. The Boll Weevils countered with five-unanswered points to push their lead back to 11 points on a pair of free throws by Gil Verner.

UAFS got no closer than seven points the remainder of the game.

Junior Josh Simmons and Williams led UAFS with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Junior Jason Jackson chipped in nine points and had a team-high six rebounds. Junior Aaron McHenry and freshman Jalynn Mitchell had four assists apiece.

Simmons scored 11 first-half points, but the Lions trailed 33-26 at the break. The junior guard from Houston, Texas, hit three of the Lions’ five 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes.
UAFS led twice in the opening half – the second time coming on a 3-pointer by Simmons that made it 10-9 with 15:53 left. UA Monticello stretched its lead to seven points at halftime on a 3-pointer by Gill Verner. Verner sank two of the Boll Weevils’ three first-half treys.

Verner scored 21 points to lead three Boll Weevils in double-figure scoring. Jarrell Turner and Anthony Lacey had 14 and 12 points, respectively. Derek Easter had 10 rebounds to help the Boll Weevils out-rebound the Lions 43-37.